An all-white jury in Ocala, Florida, found Susan Lorincz, a 60-year-old white woman, guilty of manslaughter on Friday, August 18, 2024, in the fatal shooting of her Black neighbor, 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Owens. The verdict came after 2 1/2 hours of deliberation, rejecting Lorincz’s claims of self-defense.
Lorincz, who faces up to 30 years in prison, shot Owens through a metal door on June 2, 2023, following a long-standing dispute over Owens’ children playing in a grassy area near their homes. Lorincz claimed she feared for her life as Owens yelled and pounded on her door.
The prosecution argued that there was no evidence of imminent physical threat to Lorincz when she fired her .380-caliber handgun. Prosecutor Rich Buxman stated, “It’s not a crime to bang on somebody’s door. It’s not a crime to yell. There was no imminent danger whatsoever when she fired that gun.”
Lorincz’s defense team cited Florida’s “stand your ground” law, arguing that she was legally justified in using her weapon due to fear of Owens’ aggressive actions. However, the jury ultimately rejected this argument.
The case had sparked racial tensions in the community, with protests occurring when prosecutors initially took weeks to charge Lorincz with manslaughter rather than second-degree murder. The Owens family expressed surprise at the lack of Black jurors given the case’s racially sensitive nature.
Circuit Judge Robert W. Hodges has ordered a background report on Lorincz before setting a sentencing date. The Owens family plans to push for the maximum 30-year prison term.
Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, expressed some solace in the verdict, stating, “We’ve achieved some justice for Ajike. My heart is a little lighter.”
State Attorney William Gladson commented on the case’s tragic nature, emphasizing the lasting impact on Owens’ four children who are now without their mother.
The verdict concludes a case that has highlighted ongoing racial tensions and debates over self-defense laws in Florida and across the United States.
