Former Dayton high school basketball standout and NBA player Adreian Payne died early Monday morning after being shot and killed at a home in east Orange County, Florida, according to our news partners at WFTV-TV in Orlando.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home just after 1:30 a.m., WFTV reported. Upon arrival, they found Payne injured. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Investigators identified the shooter as Lawrence Dority, 29. WFTV reported that Dority was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder and was taken to the Orange County Jail.
He graduated from Jefferson High School in 2010 and helped them to a Division IV state championship his senior year.
Payne was remembered as being one of the “shining stars” during his time as a student and athlete in the Jefferson Twp. district, Superintendent Dr. Richard Gates said in a statement to News Center 7 Monday.
“We were very saddened to hear the tragic news of Adreian’s passing. He was an outstanding young man with so much potential. He will forever be one of the Jefferson Township Educational Community’s shining stars,” Gates said in the statement.
Payne played four seasons of college ball at Michigan State from 2010 to 2014 and was a first round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in 2014. He scored over 1,000 points in his college career and led the Spartans to the Elite Eight his senior year before losing to eventual champ UConn in 2014.
Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks against the Virginia Tech Hokies during their game at the Barclays Center on November 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with 8 year old Lacey Hullsworth after the 69-55 win over the Michigan Wolverines during the finals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 16, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots over Siyani Chambers #1 of the Harvard Crimson in the first half during the Third Round of the 2014 NCAA Basketball Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 22, 2014 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the East Regional Final of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans and Phillip Nolan #0 of the Connecticut Huskies chase after a loose ball during the East Regional Final of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #33 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during the 2014 NBA rookie photo shoot at MSG Training Center on August 3, 2014 in Tarrytown, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #33 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during the 2014 NBA rookie photo shoot at MSG Training Center on August 3, 2014 in Tarrytown, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves leans on Andrew Wiggins #22 during practice before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on October 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Josh Smith #5 of the Houston Rockets drives with the basketball against Adreian Payne #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during their game at the Toyota Center on February 23, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves takes a shot against Chandler Parsons #25 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on February 28, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #33 of the Orlando Magic shoots against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on December 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Magic 112-94. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Jerian Grant #2 of the Chicago Bulls looks to pass against Adreian Payne #33 of the Orlando Magic at the United Center on December 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Magic 112-94. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Adreian Payne #33 of the Orlando Magic shoots against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on December 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Magic 112-94. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
He played in both the NBA and the NBA G-League before going overseas in 2018. Payne played in Greece, winning the GBL championship in 2018 and Greek Basketball Cup in 2019 as a member of Panthiakos, a Greek League Basketball Club. Payne also played overseas in Turkey, China and Lithuania.
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 30: Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the East Regional Final of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
