By: Nina Cray
Adreian Payne, former Michigan State star from Dayton, Ohio, was shot on Monday, May 9th, 2022. He was taken to the hospital, but pronounced dead, according to a statement released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The statement said that police responded to a shooting at 1:37am Monday morning, and that the shooter — a man identified as Lawrence Dority — remained on the scene and was later arrested for first-degree murder charges.
Payne was the No. 15 selection overall in the 2014 NBA draft and started his career with the Atlanta Hawks. He also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic & overseas with a Greek league called Panathinaikos.
Payne was a great college athlete prior to his NBA career – he scored a postseason record 41 points and was one of just ten Michigan State players to score 1,200 career points and have 700 career rebounds.
One of the most notable aspects of Payne’s college career was his friendship with 8-year-old cancer patient Lacey Holsworth.
Payne helped Lacey cut the nets after a Big Ten Title for MSU in Indianapolis.
Their friendship was one of the highlights of Payne’s senior season and made national story headlines during the 2014 NCAA tournament.
Unfortunately, Lacey passed just over a week after the Spartans season ended due to neuroblastoma complications. Just two months before Payne became a first-round pick in the NBA.
Sources:
Lounsberry, Matthew. May 9th, 2022. Spartan Nation. “Former Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne shot and killed at age 31.” <https://www.si.com/college/michiganstate/basketball/michigan-state-spartans-basketball-star-adreian-payne-shot-and-killed-in-florida-050922>
Solari, Chris. May 9th, 2022. Detroit Free Press. “Adrien Payne, former Michigan State basketball star, shot and killed Monday at age 31.” <https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2022/05/09/adreian-payne-dies-obituary/9702652002/>
