East Lansing, Mich. - Past teammates, fellow Spartans, fans and media are reacting with heartbreak to Monday’s news that former Michigan State basketball great Adreian Payne has died at the age of 31.

According to the Associated Press, the sheriff’s office in Orange County, Florida said deputies responded to a shooting Monday morning when Payne was identified and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The alleged assailant, Lawrence Dority, was present at the scene, according to the sheriff's office.

The 29-year-old Dority was arrested on a first-degree murder warrant after homicide detectives interviewed him.

Payne played for Michigan State from 2010-14. He was second-team All-Big Ten as a junior and a senior.

Payne carried Michigan State to the cusp of the Final Four in 2014, falling short against UConn in the Elite Eight. Earlier in that tournament, he scored a Michigan State postseason record 41 points against Delaware in the First Round.

Payne will be best-remembered for his storybook friendship with Lacey Holsworth, a little girl from St. John’s, Mich., who was a big Spartan basketball fan and battled cancer. It became known that Payne was Holsworth’s favorite player, and he befriended her as part of a relationship that became a national news story throughout the 2014 season.

Holsworth attended Michigan State games and practices. She passed away a few days after Payne’s career at Michigan State ended with the loss to UConn.

Payne, his teammates, Tom Izzo and members of the Michigan State basketball family paid tribute to Lacey and the Holsworth family in a tribute at Breslin Center in early April of 2014, a celebration of life which included a vigil at The Rock on the Michigan State campus, where Izzo tearfully addressed mourners.

"I'm in shock at the tragic news of Adreian Payne's death," Izzo said in a statement. "Our prayers are with his family, teammates and loved ones. Adreian was loved by his teammates and coaches, who respected his development as a player and a person. He came to Michigan State with a ton of raw talent and put in the work to reach his goal of becoming an NBA player."

Payne became a first round draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks, being selected No. 15 overall. Payne played in 107 NBA games, averaging four points and three rebounds, over four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic.

Reaction to Payne’s passing continued to pour in over social media on Monday: