ALBANY, Ga. — Three teenagers and one adult have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of 15-year-old Austin Payne, according to the Albany Police Department (APD).

The department says officers responded to the 800 block of Cameo Lane on Nov. 1, 2026, after receiving a report of an incident. When officers arrived, they found Payne dead inside an abandoned home.

Following an investigation and several interviews, investigators identified four people who were allegedly involved in Payne’s death.

The four individuals charged are:

• Jansquincey Donaldson, 15
• Omari Marion, 15
• Adarious Wallace, 16
• Detravion Parker, 22

All four were arrested and transported to the Dougherty County Jail.

WALB previously reported that Payne’s mother found him unresponsive inside an abandoned apartment at 810 Cameo Lane, Apartment B, on the morning of Nov. 1.

According to the initial incident report, Payne’s mother began searching for him after he did not return home the night before. She used phone tracking to locate his phone at the apartment.

Investigators reviewing surveillance footage and phone records pieced together a timeline of events from the night of Oct. 31. Witnesses told investigators that armed individuals approached a group walking with Payne, ordered them to hand over their belongings and fired shots.

Witnesses said Payne may have been targeted in an attempted robbery involving a handgun he had recently posted on social media.

The Albany Police Department is asking anyone with additional information to contact investigators at 229-431-2100.

Meanwhile, Payne’s family has started a GoFundMe to raise enough money to pay for his funeral service.

This is a developing story. WALB will continue to follow the investigation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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