Ocala, Florida – Susan Lorincz, a white woman, received a 25-year prison sentence for fatally shooting her black neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, during a dispute over children playing near her apartment in central Florida. Lorincz was found guilty of manslaughter for shooting Owens through her front door on June 2, 2023, leading to Owens’s tragic death.

During the trial, Lorincz’s lack of a criminal record played a role in the sentencing decision, with Judge Robert Hodges describing the crime as a “very aggravated manslaughter.” Despite calls for a maximum penalty of 30 years by Owens’ family and prosecutors, the judge took into consideration the circumstances surrounding Lorincz’s actions.

The trial also brought attention to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, allowing individuals to use deadly force in self-defense in certain situations. Lorincz claimed she feared for her life during the incident when Owens was knocking on her door and shouting threats. While Lorincz did not testify during the trial, she expressed remorse during the penalty phase, stating she never intended to kill Owens and felt confused by the events of that night.

Throughout the trial, psychological trauma experts and character witnesses testified on Lorincz’s behalf, painting a picture of her difficult past marked by abuse and a family history of addiction and mental illness. Despite arguments of self-defense presented by the defense, the judge deemed the shooting unnecessary, emphasizing that Lorincz had other options available to her before resorting to lethal force.

Following the sentencing, Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, expressed a mix of emotions, stating that while she was pleased with the sentence, it did not bring back her daughter or fulfill the dreams they had shared. Dias criticized Lorincz’s courtroom apology as insincere, believing it to be a last-ditch effort to mitigate her actions without genuine remorse.

In the aftermath of the trial, the community reflects on the tragic outcome of the dispute and the consequences of resorting to violence. As both families navigate the aftermath of the shooting, the hope for healing and understanding remains a distant yet essential goal for all involved.