In a swift decision on Friday, a Marion County jury found Ocala resident Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter in the 2023 shooting death of her neighbor, Ajike “Aj” Owens. The verdict came after just a few hours of deliberation, bringing a tragic case that has gripped the community closer to a resolution.
The incident occurred on June 2, 2023, when Lorincz fatally shot Owens through her front door following an altercation involving Owens’ children. The defense argued that Lorincz acted in self-defense, invoking Florida’s “stand your ground” law. However, prosecutors countered that there was no imminent threat to Lorincz’s life, pointing out that Owens had not attempted to break down Lorincz’s locked door, nor was she armed.
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The case highlighted the tense relationship between the two neighbors, with Lorincz expressing frustration over what she described as ongoing issues with neighborhood children, including Owens’ four kids, aged 12, 9, 7, and 3 at the time. On the day of the shooting, Lorincz reportedly threw a pair of roller skates at one of Owens’ children, prompting Owens to confront her by banging on her door. That’s when Lorincz fired a single shot from her Remington 380, killing Owens.
Throughout the trial, both sides recounted past encounters between Lorincz and Owens, none of which had escalated to violence before. Defense attorney Amanda Sizemore emphasized Lorincz’s belief that she was in imminent danger, but prosecutors argued that this perception was unfounded. “Ms. Owens, before she was shot, had no ability whatsoever to get into the house,” said prosecutor Rich Buxman during closing arguments. “Was it reasonable to shoot through a closed, locked, dead-bolted door? That’s the ultimate question.”
The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, agreeing that Lorincz had acted with “reckless disregard for human life.” When sentenced, Lorincz could face up to 30 years in prison.
For Owens’ family, the verdict brought a measure of relief. Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, expressed gratitude for the jury’s decision but noted the ongoing pain her daughter’s children are enduring. “My heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones to violence and to those who have not found justice as we did,” she said. “Please continue to keep the family, and especially Ajike’s four children, in your prayers.”
As the family awaits Lorincz’s sentencing, they remain hopeful that she will receive the maximum penalty, bringing some sense of closure to a heartbreaking chapter in their lives.
