Man indicted in drug-related shooting death

A 20-year-old Baton Rouge man was indicted Thursday in the June 9 drug-related shooting death of another man on Paige Street.

An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury charged Jeremy Payne, 5710 Cadillac St., with second-degree murder in the slaying of Curtis Mitchell, 31.

Police said they found Mitchell inside his home at 5303 Paige St. with a gunshot wound to the chest. He later died from his injuries.

The shooting appears to have been drug related, police said. A drug transaction took place between Mitchell and Payne, but it is not known which man was selling the drugs, police said.

Payne returned later to rob Mitchell, which is when Payne allegedly shot him, police said.

A second-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

The case has been assigned to District Judge Don Johnson.