White woman convicted of murder in fatal shooting of black neighbor over dispute over children’s play – Essence

In a case that has shaken the Ocala, Florida, community, a white woman with a documented history of harassing children and using racial slurs was convicted Friday of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Ajike “AJ” Owens, a black mother.

The tragic incident occurred on June 2, 2023, when 60-12 months-old Susan Louise Lorincz shot Owens through the door of her apartment. The shooting occurred after an extended-standing dispute between the 2 over Owens’ children playing outside.

Despite Lorincz’s claims of self-defense, a six-person, all-white jury found her guilty, resulting in a sentence of as much as 30 years in prison. Associated Press reportsThe courtroom was stuffed with emotion as the decision was read, and Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, burst into tears. A member of the family’s heartfelt cry of “Oh, God. Thank you, Jesus,” captured the bittersweet mix of relief and pain relief.

Reflecting on the decision, Dias said: “It’s been a long journey to get to this day, to come to this verdict. My heart is a little lighter and we are now on the path to true healing.”

The confrontation that ended in Owens’ death began when she went to Lorincz’s after she allegedly threw skates and an umbrella at her children. As the argument escalated, Lorincz fired a single shot through a closed door, killing Owens as her children watched in horror.

During the trial, the jury heard Lorincz testify in a police interview that she feared for her life and didn’t intend to kill Owens. “I was shaking. I was just so shaken up at that point,” Lorincz said. But prosecutors challenged her story, mentioning that Owens was unarmed and that Lorincz’s door was tightly locked.

Lorincz’s defense relied heavily on Florida’s controversial “stand and fight” law, which allows the use of deadly force if an individual believes their life is in imminent danger.

But Owens’ family and their attorney, Anthony D. Thomas, argued the case was about greater than Lorincz’s actions. “Today was not only about Susan Lorincz, but also about ‘stand and defend’ and how that is defined,” Thomas said, suggesting the ruling brought more clarity to the much-debated right.

Lorincz was not initially arrested immediately after the shooting, sparking outrage from the community. It wasn’t until June 6, 2023, that the Marion County Sheriff’s Office took her into custody. Sheriff Billy Woods later stated that their investigation found Lorincz’s actions weren’t justified by law, calling them “simply murder.”

Although prosecutors considered charging Lorincz with second-degree murder, they ultimately filed a charge of manslaughter, realizing that proving intent was difficult.