A gunshot claimed the life of Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State basketball player and NBA player. His age was 31.
Deputies responded to a shooting at 1:34 a.m. Monday, when Payne was identified and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Adreian Payne manner of death: How was Adreian Payne shot and killed?
Over four seasons with Atlanta, Minnesota, and Orlando, Payne appeared in 107 NBA games, averaging four points and three rebounds.
He was picked No. 15 overall by the Hawks in 2014, then traded to the Timberwolves, where he averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds as a promising rookie.
Payne played professionally for Juventus in Lithuania earlier this year. In addition, he performed in Turkey, France, Greece, and China.
Payne, a Dayton, Ohio native, started 94 of Michigan State’s 138 games in four seasons under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.
Have any suspects been identified or arrested?
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence Dority, 29, was present at the scene.
After homicide detectives interviewed him, he was detained on a first-degree murder warrant.
