In the late hours of a Wednesday evening in Memphis, Tennessee, a young man's life was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. Seventeen-year-old Contario Sevion, a male employee at a Five Guys restaurant, was diligently carrying out his work duties, taking out the trash in the parking lot just after midnight on September 15, 2021. It was in this ordinary moment that he was ambushed and shot twice, his life ending in the place where he earned a living.
The investigation into
the death of Contario Sevion led authorities to two brothers. Shortly after the shooting, 19-year-old Zavon Payne was taken into custody and faced a charge of facilitation of first-degree murder. His younger brother, 16-year-old Dajimon Payne, was identified as the alleged shooter. Zavon Payne reportedly told investigators that while he did not witness the shooting itself, he saw his brother exit their vehicle with a gun and then heard a barrage of 10 to 15 gunshots.
Following his arrest, Dajimon Payne was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Despite his juvenile status at the time of the offense, a judge ruled that the severity of the crime warranted him being tried as an adult. The case was subsequently transferred to the adult court system to proceed.
