A Florida teenager is facing two murder charges after authorities say he orchestrated the killing of his own father, then executed the teenage accomplice who pulled the trigger just three days later, a chilling case of betrayal and violence that has rocked the Jacksonville community.
Shane Payne Jr. , now 17, was already incarcerated on unrelated kidnapping charges when the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced new charges against him this week, alleging he conspired with his close friend, 16-year-old Timothy Dixon, to murder his father, Shane Payne Sr. , on August 3, 2022.
Investigators say the plot unraveled quickly, leading to a second killing that prosecutors describe as a cold-blooded attempt to silence a witness.
The case began when police responded to a shooting at the Devaston housing complex on the north side of Jacksonville around 11:30 p. m. that August night.
Officers found Shane Payne Sr. dead in his bed, executed by a single gunshot wound. Witnesses told police that several children, ranging from four years old to young teenagers, were inside the home at the time of the murder.
The shooter had walked straight to the back bedroom, fired the fatal shot, and fled in a stolen Honda. Among those interviewed that night was Shane Payne Jr., then just 15 years old, who told investigators he did not recognize the shooter but described a man wearing a ski mask similar to those popularized by drill rap culture.
Three days later, on August 6, 2022, police discovered the body of Timothy Dixon in the Ortega Farms neighborhood on the west side of Jacksonville. Dixon had been shot once in the head, and a single nine-millimeter shell casing was found near his body. At first, the two murders appeared unrelated, but forensic evidence would soon link them in a devastating chain.
The shell casing from Dixon’s murder was submitted to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Firearm Laboratory, where it matched a casing recovered from the scene of Shane Payne Sr.’s murder through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. This ballistic connection set off alarms for investigators, who began scrutinizing the relationship between the two teenagers.
Phone records revealed that Dixon received four calls from Payne Jr. within the hour before he was killed, with the final incoming call at 1:20 a. m.
Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot at approximately 1:30 a. m. , and Payne Jr.’
s phone records showed a call to his mother just eight minutes later. Cell tower data placed Payne Jr.’ s device near both crime scenes at the critical times.
Detectives also discovered that Payne Jr. had searched online for a ski mask and had obtained GPS directions to the home where his father was murdered on the same day as the killing. Surveillance footage from the apartment complex showed what investigators described as a practice run, with both teenagers appearing to scope out the location less than ten minutes before the murder.
The investigation took another turn when police responded to a shooting on Phillip Randolph Boulevard on August 13, 2022, ten days after the father’s murder and seven days after Dixon’s death. The shooter was seen on video firing into a crowd, though no one was hit. Shell casings from that scene were also linked to both murders, and the shooter was identified as Payne Jr.
, who later pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed firearm.
Payne Jr. was arrested in December 2023 on charges related to an alleged home invasion robbery and kidnapping. While in custody, detectives interviewed him again about the deaths of his father and his friend.
Payne Jr. claimed he was getting a haircut at his cousin’s apartment on the night Dixon was killed, but his cousin could not confirm the alibi for the specific date.
Prosecutors allege that Payne Jr. not only conspired with Dixon to kill his father but also let Dixon into the home to carry out the murder. The motive, according to investigators, stemmed from a desire to be put on in the streets, a phrase used in gang culture to describe being initiated into criminal activity or given access to illegal money-making operations.
Payne Jr. was reportedly affiliated with the No Hospital Gang, or NHG, a Jacksonville-based gang founded by individuals who have faced their own high-profile murder trials. The gang’s co-founder, Queso, was recently sentenced to life in prison after his own father testified against him in court, a fact that investigators say may have influenced Payne Jr.’
s mindset.
In a social media post from jail, Payne Jr. appeared to take accountability for his actions, warning other young people to learn from his mistakes. He wrote that being a gangster means buying your mother a house, not making her cry inside a courtroom, and urged others to think before making decisions that could ruin their lives.
The post garnered mixed reactions, with some praising his apparent remorse while others expressed disappointment that it took a 30-year prison sentence for him to recognize the consequences of his actions. Payne Jr. has been sentenced to 30 years for the kidnapping case, with the murder charges still pending trial, which is scheduled for late 2026.
Family members have expressed devastation over the case, with one relative stating that the bond between Shane Payne Sr. and his son was once strong, but the violence has left the family broken. The grandmother of Payne Jr.
has reportedly only shown love for her deceased son, not her grandson, highlighting the deep fractures within the family.
The case has shocked even veteran law enforcement officers, who say it is rare to see a 15-year-old orchestrate such a calculated series of violent acts. Crime experts note that the killing of an accomplice to eliminate a witness is a tactic often seen in organized crime, but almost unheard of in juvenile cases.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detectives spent nearly two years building the case, using forensic evidence, phone records, and surveillance footage to connect the dots. They emphasized that the shell casing evidence was crucial, as it provided an irrefutable link between the two murder scenes and the later shooting incident.
The investigation also revealed that Dixon and Payne Jr. were former neighbors and extremely close friends, making the betrayal even more profound. Authorities believe that Payne Jr.
manipulated Dixon into killing his father, then killed Dixon to prevent him from ever revealing the truth about what happened that night.
The case has drawn attention to the influence of drill rap culture and gang affiliation in Jacksonville, where a wave of youth violence has prompted community leaders to call for more intervention programs. The No Hospital Gang, which glorifies violence and retaliation, has been linked to multiple homicides in the area.
Prosecutors are seeking the maximum penalty for Payne Jr., who could face life in prison if convicted of the murder charges. His defense attorney has entered a plea of not guilty and is challenging jurisdictional issues in the case, arguing that the charges should be handled in juvenile court.
The trial for the murder of Shane Payne Sr. is expected to begin in late 2026, with the kidnapping case already resolved by the 30-year sentence. Legal experts say the outcome of the murder trial will depend heavily on the admissibility of the forensic evidence and the testimony of witnesses who were present during the crimes.
Community members in the Devaston housing complex where the father was killed have expressed grief and frustration, noting that this is the second homicide in the neighborhood this year. Residents are calling for increased security and police presence to prevent further violence.
The case has also sparked discussions about parental responsibility and the challenges of raising children in environments where gang culture is prevalent. Some advocates argue that more resources should be directed toward at-risk youth to prevent them from being recruited into violent organizations.
As the legal proceedings continue, the families of both Shane Payne Sr. and Timothy Dixon are left to grapple with the loss of their loved ones. The tragedy has underscored the devastating consequences of youth violence and the cycle of retaliation that often follows.
Payne Jr. remains in custody at the Duval County Jail, where he is being held without bond on the murder charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 2024, where pretrial motions will be heard before the case moves toward trial.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has released limited information about the case, citing the ongoing investigation and the age of the suspect. However, they have confirmed that additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the violence that can erupt when young people become entangled in gang activity and criminal enterprises. The loss of two young lives and the imprisonment of a third have left a community searching for answers and hoping for justice.
