A White Florida woman who shot and killed her Black neighbour through her front door during a dispute over noisy children faces sentencing on Monday for manslaughter conviction.
Susan Lorincz, 60, was found guilty in August of fatally shooting 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Owens in June 2023. Using a 380-calibre handgun, Lorincz fired a single shot that resulted in Owens’ death. Due to the use of a firearm, Lorincz faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.
The fatal incident followed an ongoing conflict between the neighbours regarding Owens’ children playing in the grassy area near both houses in Ocala, about 80 miles (130 kilometres) northwest of Orlando. Prosecutors said Owens approached Lorincz’s home after her children alleged that Lorincz had thrown roller skates and an umbrella at them—claims that Lorincz denied.
Trial testimony revealed that Owens, a mother of four, was pounding on Lorincz’s door and shouting at the time of the shooting. Lorincz claimed she acted in self-defence, fearing for her life.
“I thought I was in imminent danger,” Lorincz said in a videotaped interview with detectives, adding that she had felt harassed during most of her three years living in the neighbourhood.
However, the jury rejected her self-defence argument.
Owens’ family has called for the court to impose the maximum sentence on Lorincz.
“While the pain of losing Ajike, we are hopeful that justice will prevail and that the court will give Susan Lorincz the maximum penalty for her actions,” Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, said in an email statement ahead of the sentencing. “Ajike’s legacy will live on through her children, and we will continue to fight for justice.”
Amanda Sizemore, Lorincz’s attorney and Assistant Public Defender, has argued for a more lenient sentence, below the 11.5 years recommended under state guidelines.
Sizemore cited factors such as a mental disorder and claimed Owens was the aggressor, suggesting Lorincz acted under “extreme duress” during the altercation.
The case sparked protests in Ocala’s Black community when it took weeks for prosecutors to charge Lorincz. She was ultimately charged with manslaughter, a lesser count than second-degree murder, which carries a potential life sentence. Marion County, where Ocala is located, has a Black population of approximately 12%, according to census data.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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