Update: White Woman Who Shot Black Neighbor Through Her Door After Ongoing Dispute Gets 25-Year Prison Sentence

Ajike “AJ” Owens, Susan Louise Lorincz

Update: White Woman Who Shot Black Neighbor Through Her Door After Ongoing Dispute Gets 25-Year Prison Sentence

Update (Nov. 25, 2024): Justice has been served!

On November 25, Circuit Judge Robert Hodges sentenced 60-year-old Susan Lorincz to 25 years for the manslaughter of Ajike “AJ” Owens, who was shot and killed in front of her children on June 2, 2023.

The state had requested the maximum sentence of 30 years. Judge Hodges cited the severe impact on Owens’ children and the community, but took into account Lorincz’s PTSD and lack of a criminal record.

The shooting followed an ongoing dispute between Lorincz and Owens’ children, who often played near Lorincz’s apartment. Lorincz claimed self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, but a jury found her actions unjustified in August. The case gained national attention, with figures like Rev. Al Sharpton and attorneys Ben Crump and Anthony Thomas supporting Owens’ family.

At sentencing, Lorincz expressed remorse, while Owens’ mother, Pamela Dais, described the profound trauma her family endured. Dais, now the primary caretaker for her grandchildren, said the children’s lives had been forever altered. “They have a lifetime of scars,” she said, condemning Lorincz for shooting Owens while knowing law enforcement was on the way.

Defense witnesses painted Lorincz as a kind, helpful person, with a history of working as an EMT and being involved in her church. Her sister testified to a traumatic childhood, citing abuse and mental illness in their family, while a forensic psychologist diagnosed Lorincz with PTSD.

However, the psychologist noted Lorincz’s growing understanding of the consequences of her actions, including the realization that Owens was simply trying to protect her children.

Prayers for her family.

Update: (Jun. 7, 2023): An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of Ajike “AJ” Owens.

Tuesday night (Jun. 6) A 58-year-old white woman named Susan Louise Lorincz was arrested in Marion County, Fla. for allegedly fatally shooting her neighbor, Ajike Owens, through her front door on Friday night (Jun. 2).

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Lorincz was charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault.

Initially following Owens’ death, her family and community called for the arrest of Lorincz. However, Sheriff Billy Woods said that prior to an arrest being made, an investigation would have to take place to determine if Lorincz’s actions were justified under Florida’s “stand-your-ground law.”

After looking further into the situation, “detectives were able to establish that Lorincz’s actions were not justifiable under Florida law,” the sheriff’s office said.

Sheriff Woods released a statement on the matter and said,

“I want to thank all of you who have sent me messages … encouraging the arrest, because it shows that you care about a fellow human being,”

Woods continued,

 “Rushing in to make an arrest is not the right thing to do sometimes … because we want to ensure that what we present, that justice is served all the way through the courts, and that the individual gets what they deserve.”

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is now representing Owens’ family. He addressed the delay in Lorincz’s arrest and said,

“While we are relieved that the woman apparently responsible for the tragic killing of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens has been arrested, we are no less concerned that accountability has taken this long because archaic laws like Stand Your Ground exist.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.

[VIA 1,2,3,4]

Original story: (Jun. 5, 2023): Sad news.

A Black mother was fatally shot after approaching a neighbor’s front door over the weekend.

According to reports, on Friday night (June 2), a woman named Ajike Shantrell Owens, also known as “AJ,” was fatally shot by a neighbor at a Florida duplex.

Ajike Owens

Neighbors at the scene said multiple children were outside playing near one of the buildings prior to the tragic incident. Reportedly, a woman living in one of the homes came outside and took a tablet belonging to one of Ajike Owens’ children. Neighbors also said that the woman threw an object at one of the children.

Following the incident, residents said Ajike Owens’ son told the woman he was going to tell his mother. After being informed of what happened, the mother-of-four — who lived across the street — went to the woman’s home in an attempt to resolve the conflict. Unfortunately, that’s when things turned deadly and Owens was then shot by the woman.

According to neighbors, the shooter never opened her door and fired the fatal shot from inside her residence.

Lauren Smith — one of the neighbors who rushed to Owens’ aid — said she was sitting outside when she saw one of the 35-year-old’s sons pacing back and forth. She said he repeatedly yelled that his mother had been shot and was lying in the grass near a large tree, according to reports.

Recent reports state that there was an ongoing “neighborhood feud” between the shooter and Owens over Owens’ children. Authorities said law enforcement officers had been called out to the area six to eight times.

According to witnesses, Owens was shot once, in the upper body, close to her right shoulder. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time. Residents in the area also said the woman left not long after firing the fatal shot at Owens.

Ajike Owens

Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Ajike Owens at this time.

[Sources: 1, 2]