Washington — A 27-year-old man has been found guilty of charges stemming from the killing of his friend in a dispute that took place in 2015 in Northeast D.C.
Davon Payton was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 16 of involuntary manslaughter and related weapons charges.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, on Nov. 13, 2015, the victim, Ray Harrison, along with his fiancee and her female friend from Texas, drove unannounced to Payton’s apartment at 2:30 a.m.
Harrison and his fiancee were friends with Payton and his girlfriend.
When Harrison and the two women arrived at the 1300 block of Adams Street NE, the two women stayed in the car, while Harrison walked up the steps and knocked on the front window of Payton’s apartment.
Payton pulled a gun from his waistband and went to the front door. He confronted Harrison on the front steps of the building, demanding to know why he was there at that hour of night.
A fight ensued, and, during the fight, Payton shot Harrison in the chest. Harrison, who was 21, staggered to the curb, where he collapsed and died.
Payton was arrested on Nov. 20, 2015. He will be sentenced on April 13.