JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 71-year-old man found guilty of second-degree murder has been sentenced to life in prison.
Payne Johnson Jr. shot the victim in the back and killed him at a business on Wigmore Street in Jacksonville on Dec. 4, 2022.
Police said they caught Johnson on surveillance cameras pulling into the entrance to the business, then leaving, earlier in the day. He returned to the scene and two gunshots were heard in the video. He then drove off.
After the gunshots -- when the victim was already dead -- notifications appeared on the victim's phone notifying him that there were charges on his debit card.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was able to track the debit card activity. Officers pulled surveillance from multiple gas stations that showed Johnson attempting to get money out of ATMs.
Police were also partially aided in their investigation by Johnson's fiancé reporting him missing. She said he told her he would be home the day before and never showed up.
It took police months to find Johnson, who was located in South Carolina and successfully arrested.
His cell phone had pictures of a firearm taken 20 minutes before the shooting and photos of the crime scene, police said.
Live ammunition was also found in his car, matching the brand of the casings found at the scene.
In September, a Duval County jury found Johnson guilty of second-degree murder.