The Altoona Mirror reports that Blair County Judge Tim Sullivan rejected arguments by Isiah Payne that he was under the influence of pain killers when two people were shot to death in Altoona. Payne and his girlfriend, Onya Lewis were arrested in July of 2020 for the shootings of Mikel Jackson Stevenson and Natalie Washington, who were gunned down inside Washington’s Beale Avenue apartment. Payne’s attorney asked Judge Sullivan to bar the use of his statements to police because of being under drug influence, but Judge Sullivan rejected that argument. Payne is facing the death penalty. Lewis is facing second degree murder charges and is also appealing charges in connection with Payne.
