Florida Woman Convicted of Manslaughter for Shooting Neighbor Through Locked Door

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

In a case that has drawn widespread attention, Susan Louise Lorincz [Lawrence] , a 60-year-old resident of Florida, was convicted on Friday of manslaughter by use of a firearm in the tragic death of Ajike [AH-jick-uh] “A.J.” Owens, a 35-year-old Black mother of four. The verdict came after a brief deliberation by an all-white jury.
Outside the courtroom, Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, said, “We’ve achieved some justice for Ajike. My heart is a little lighter,” Dias said. “This has been a long journey to get to this stage, to get to this verdict. I find some peace with that verdict.”
Ajike “A.J.” Owens was fatally shot on June 2, 2023, as reported by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies initially responded to a call about trespassing around 9 p.m. Shortly after, they received another call about a shooting at the same address. Upon arrival, deputies found Owens in front of Lorincz’s apartment with a gunshot wound. They provided immediate aid until Marion County Fire Rescue arrived and transported Owens to the hospital, where she later died.
Detectives, through interviews, surveillance footage, and prior incident reports, discovered that Lorincz had grown increasingly hostile towards Owens' children, who had been playing in a nearby field.
Authorities reported a series of escalating incidents leading up to the shooting. A neighbor witnessed Lorincz yelling at Owens’ children, and during the altercation, Lorincz threw a roller skate at the 10-year-old, injuring his toe. When the boy and his 12-year-old brother approached Lorincz to address the issue, she opened her door and swung an umbrella at them.
After the children relayed the events to their mother, Owens went to Lorincz’s residence, knocked repeatedly, and demanded that Lorincz come outside. In response, Lorincz fired a shot through the door, hitting Owens in the chest as her 10-year-old son stood beside her. Lorincz later claimed self-defense, alleging that Owens had tried to break down her door and had previously attacked her.
Despite Lorincz's claims of self-defense, detectives concluded that her actions were not legally justified.
Bill Gladson, State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, stated in a news release that the case serves as a tragic reminder of the profound consequences of gun violence.
“The defendant’s choices have left four young children without their mother, a loss that will be felt for the rest of their lives,” he said. “While today’s verdict can’t bring AJ back, we hope it brings some measure of justice and peace to her family and friends.”
Lorincz, who faces up to 30 years in prison, will be sentenced at a later date.
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