Florida woman sentenced for manslaughter in fatal shooting of African-American neighbor

A Florida woman who shot and killed her neighbor through her front door in June 2023 has been found guilty of murder by a state jury.

Identified as Susan Lorincz, a 60-year-old white woman, she shot Ajike “AJ” Owens, a 35-year-old African-American woman, when she knocked on the defendant’s door due to a fight over children playing outside.

Lorincz’s defense argued that she fired in self-defense. According to Owens’ family and an arrest affidavit, the defendant had yelled racial slurs at the slain mother’s children before the fatal shooting.

The incident occurred due to several disputes between the two women, which resulted in the police being called at least six times since January 2021.

Lorincz was inside his apartment when he pulled the trigger, hitting the victim in the chest.

The incident is believed to have stemmed from an altercation earlier that day in which Lorincz yelled at Owens’ children and hit one of them with a pair of roller skates.

Prosecutors argued that there was no immediate threat to the defendant’s safety when she fired through the closed metal door, knowing that Owens was on the other side of it.

Prosecutor Rich Buxman said Lorincz had acted with “complete disregard for the lives of others.”

“She pointed a loaded gun at a door, at a person she knew was there on the other side of the door, and intentionally pulled the trigger. That shows a reckless disregard for human life,” he told jurors.

The all-white Florida jury reached its verdict after less than three hours of deliberations.

The trial lasted a week. The defendant will be sentenced soon and could face up to 30 years in prison, BBC News reported.

Owens’ mother was quick to celebrate the ruling, according to reporters at the courthouse.

“Oh God, thank you, Jesus!” said Pamela Dias.

The victim left behind four orphaned children, aged between four and thirteen.

Lorincz was arrested five days after the crime, after detectives initially decided not to charge her because of a doctrine of self-defense called “self-defense.”

Florida created a “stand your ground” law in 2005 that gives people the right to protect themselves with reasonable force (including deadly force) to prevent death or bodily harm.

There are various versions of stand-your-ground laws in effect in at least 28 states.

State Attorney Bill Gladson issued a statement after Friday’s ruling, the Ocala Star Banner reported: “This case has always been about getting justice for the victim and her children.”

“Cases involving self-defense are often difficult because juries are asked to decide whether a particular person’s response to a situation is reasonable or not under the law.”

“We are pleased with their decision and believe that while nothing can bring AJ Owens back, this verdict holds his killer accountable,” he added.

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