ORLANDO, Fla. – The man found guilty of shooting and killing former Orlando Magic player Adreian Payne was sentenced Friday to life in prison.
Lawrence Dority was found guilty of second-degree murder in July in the fatal 2022 shooting of the former Michigan State standout and one-time Orlando Magic player.
Moments after the sentence was announced, Dority said, “I will not spend my life in prison.”
He had earlier apologized in court, saying, “I would like to first say my heart goes out to the family,” before the judge handed down his sentence.
Payne, who played for the Magic during the 2017-2018 season, was shot and killed outside a townhouse complex off Curry Ford Road. He was found in his car early May 9, 2022, when deputies arrived at the scene, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The two men were at Dority’s residence with their girlfriends — who were friends — when a disagreement occurred.
Tara Walker, the mother of Payne’s child, was present when Payne was shot and told the court that she asked Dority to put the gun down. Walker addressed the judge and urged the harshest sentence, saying directly to Dority, “I want to show you who you took. I want to show you who is growing up without a father.”
Dority maintained he acted to protect his family and his home despite authorities saying Payne was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
After the sentencing, Dority directed a verbal outburst at Walker, saying, “You’re a liar, Tara.”
Members of Dority’s family disputed aspects of the prosecution’s account. His sister told News 6 she believes there is more to the story and argued he does not deserve life in prison, saying, “I know Lawrence is not an aggressor. He’s not and personally it just does not make sense why Tara would ask her boyfriend to come to my brother’s house without permission.”
The life sentence resolves the criminal proceedings in the case and there was no immediate word on any appeal or related civil actions.
[WATCH: Payne’s family celebrates after Dority found guilty]