ORLANDO, Fla. – The man found guilty of shooting and killing Orlando Magic player Adreian Payne will be sentenced on Friday.
Lawrence Dority was found guilty of second-degree murder in July and faces life in prison in the fatal 2022 shooting.
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 when deputies arrived at the scene, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Payne was trying to help a woman involved in a domestic dispute with Dority and his girlfriend at the time, investigators said.
Dority took the stand in his own defense and claimed Payne threatened him from outside of his home. Authorities said Payne was not holding a weapon and the prosecution argued there was no imminent danger to Dority, who went on to say during questioning that Payne did not follow him inside his house and remained at the car while he retreated and got a gun.
Dority at one point broke down while responding to a question about how many shots he fired, saying, “I just want to go home.”
The jury would not accept Dority’s claim of self-defense.
Antwan Payne, Adreian Payne’s brother, expressed relief and gratitude for the verdict.
“Adreian was my little brother. I’m just happy to have justice,” Antwan Payne said. “It took a long time; we’ve been waiting three years for this and I’m glad it’s been done. The jury did their duty because we needed to get this menace off the streets. I’m glad he’s gone.”
[WATCH: Payne’s family celebrates after Dority found guilty]
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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