Woman fatally shot a mother of four through a locked door, then claimed it was self-defense

Susan Louise Lorincz, a 60-year-old woman from Florida, was convicted this week of manslaughter by use of a firearm after she shot and killed her neighbor, Ajike “A.J.” Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four.

The incident occurred as Owens stood on Lorincz’s porch, knocking on the locked front door, with her children present.

On Friday, a jury reached their verdict after deliberating for over two hours, finding Lorincz guilty of the charges. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues of race, self-defense claims and gun violence.

Following the verdict, Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, expressed a sense of relief and partial closure.

“We’ve achieved some justice for Ajike. My heart is a little lighter,” she said. “This has been a long journey to get to this stage, to get to this verdict. I find some peace with that verdict.”

Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson also commented on the case, emphasizing the lasting impact of Owens’ death on her children.

“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 in a news release. “While today’s verdict can’t bring AJ back, we hope it brings some measure of justice and peace to her family and friends.”

The tragic incident took place on June 2, 2023, in Ocala, Florida, about 80 miles northwest of Orlando. Marion County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about trespassing around 9 p.m. in the 1600 block of SW 107th Lane, followed by another call reporting a shooting at the same location.

When deputies arrived, they found Owens outside Lorincz’s apartment, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite efforts to save her, Owens was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital.

Investigations revealed a history of tension between Lorincz and Owens, particularly concerning Owens’ children, who often played in a field near Lorincz’s home.

On the day of the shooting, Lorincz became angry with the children and threw a roller skate at Owens’ 10-year-old son, injuring him. When the boy and his older brother went to confront Lorincz, she swung an umbrella at them.

After learning about the incident, Owens went to Lorincz’s apartment, knocked on the door multiple times, and demanded that Lorincz come outside. Instead, Lorincz fired a shot through the door, hitting Owens in the chest, all while Owens’ 10-year-old son stood beside her.

During the investigation, Lorincz claimed she acted in self-defense, alleging that Owens was trying to break down her door and had previously threatened her. However, detectives determined that her actions were not justifiable under Florida law, leading to her arrest on June 6, 2023.

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Lorincz, awaiting sentencing, now faces up to 30 years in prison.