A white Florida woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for manslaughter after fatally shooting her black neighbor during a long-running dispute.
Susan Lorincz, 60, was convicted in August of killing Ajike “AJ” Owens, 35, after a June 2023 confrontation outside Lorincz’s home in Ocala. The two women fought over Owens’ children playing near Lorincz’s property.
The dispute between the neighbors had been going on for some time. Mother-of-four Owens went to Lorins’ door to confront her about allegedly throwing things at her children – which Lorins denied. According to testimony, Owens was banging on Lorincz’s door when she fired a single shot through him.
Lorins claimed she acted in self-defense and said she feared for her life and had been harassed by Owens for years. However, the jury did not accept this claim.
Despite facing up to 30 years in prison, Lorincz received a slightly reduced sentence from Circuit Judge Robert Hodges, who took into account his childhood and mental health issues. “The shooting in this case was completely unnecessary,” Judge Hodges said. “I think the shooting was based more in anger than fear.”
In a statement to the court, Lorenz expressed regret over the tragedy, saying, “I wish I could go back and change things so she was still here. I never intended to kill anyone.”
Owens’ family, which pushed for the maximum sentence for Lorincz, shared their grief over the loss, along with Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, saying, “We are suffering from pain that will never go away.”
Lorincz’s attorney argued for a lighter sentence, citing her mental health and claiming Owens was the aggressor. However, the judge emphasized the lasting impact on Owens’ children, who will grow up without their mother.
