ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - New details have emerged after a 15-year-old boy was found shot and killed inside an abandoned apartment Sunday morning in Albany.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler identified the victim as Austin Payne. Fowler pronounced Payne dead at the scene at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.

According to an incident report from the Albany Police Department, officers were called to 810 Cameo Lane, Apartment B, at around 9:51 a.m. Sunday after Payne’s mother discovered his body on the floor.

The report states Payne’s mother began searching for him Sunday morning after he failed to return home from the night before. Using phone tracking, she traced his phone to the Cameo Lane apartment, which appeared abandoned, went inside, and found him unresponsive.

Investigators reviewing surveillance footage and phone records pieced together a timeline from Saturday night, Oct. 31:

Around 7:35 p.m., surveillance video showed six individuals walking toward 810 Cameo Ln., Apt. B. By 7:58 p.m., footage captured an individual wearing a hoodie and shorts jumping out of a window at the apartment.

At around 8:03 p.m., Payne called his mother stating he had been shot and needed help, according to phone records cited in the report. His mother told officers she initially believed he was joking because of past remarks, but became concerned when she could not reach him after finishing work later that evening.

Witnesses told investigators they were walking with Payne along a cut-through path between 600 Sands Drive and Cameo Lane when armed individuals approached them, ordered them to hand over their property, and fired shots. Witnesses said the suspects may have targeted Payne to rob him of a handgun he had recently posted to social media.

Investigators canvassed the scene along the trail and recovered seven 9mm shell casings.

The Albany Police Department asks anyone with additional information to contact investigators at (229) 431-2100.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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