In a tragic turn of events stemming from a family dispute, 33-year-old Dustin Payne of Scipio, Indiana, was fatally shot on the evening of March 10, 2019. The incident unfolded in the parking lot of a JayC Food Store on West Tipton Street in Seymour, Indiana, during what was supposed to be a routine custody exchange of Payne's four children with his ex-wife.
Payne, a white male, was accompanied by his fiancée at the time of the altercation.
The situation escalated when Payne's sister and her husband, 61-year-old William Baker, arrived at the scene separately. A verbal argument ensued between Payne and Baker, which quickly turned violent. Baker then shot Payne once in the chest with a revolver. Payne was transported to Schneck Medical Center before being airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries that night. The shooting occurred in the presence of Payne's four children.
William Baker was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with murder. Investigations revealed a history of conflict between the two men. Baker later entered into a plea agreement, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. The case progressed through the legal system, with a sentencing hearing set for October 2020.
