Ricardo Medina-Rojas, a 40-year-old male, was shot and killed on the morning of February 3, 2021, at his place of employment in Lafayette, Colorado. A maintenance worker at the Legacy Assisted Living facility, Medina-Rojas was in the lobby when a 95-year-old resident named Okey Payne confronted him. Payne, who held paranoid beliefs that staff members were stealing from him, accused Medina-Rojas of taking $200 from his wallet. Shortly after the confrontation, Payne shot Medina-Rojas in the head.
Following the shooting, Payne returned to his room, where he was later arrested by police. He confessed to the killing, telling investigators that he had shot Medina-Rojas and that his intention was to 'teach the staff a lesson' about the alleged thefts. Payne also reportedly expressed that he hoped the shooting would bring an end to the stealing. Police had previously investigated Payne's claims of theft and found them to be without merit.
Okey Payne was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder and two counts of felony menacing. The menacing charges stemmed from Payne allegedly brandishing his handgun at two individuals who tried to come to the aid of Medina-Rojas after he was shot. The firearm used in the shooting was a pistol. Investigations revealed that Payne believed the staff were not only stealing from him but also drugging him. The management of the assisted living facility stated that firearms were not permitted on the premises.
