No murder charge for Susan Lorincz in shooting death of AJ Owens, state attorney says

A woman raises her arms during the Celebration of Life for Ajike “AJ” Owens at Meadowbrook Church in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, June 12, 2023. Owens was killed on June 2 by neighbor Susan Lorincz who shot her through her closed door. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.

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Posted June 26, 2023 | By Caroline Brauchler
caroline@ocalagazette.com

There is “insufficient evidence” to charge Susan Lorincz with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Ajike “AJ” Owens, State Attorney Bill Gladson announced on Monday.

Lorincz will instead be charged with manslaughter and one count of assault, as the evidence cannot definitively show that she was in a state of “depraved mind” at the time of the shooting, and showed no evidence of hatred, evil intent, spite or ill will toward the victim, according to a release from the state attorney’s office.

Owens, a Black mother of four, was killed by Lorincz, her white neighbor, while standing outside of her neighbor’s locked door after Lorincz reportedly got into an altercation with Owens’ children who were playing outside. Lorincz reportedly shot through her door while Owens and her son were standing outside of it, fatally wounding Owens, according to Lorincz’s arrest affidavit.

The Owens family is being represented by prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who has notably defended the families of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Tyre Nichols and Breonna Taylor.

“I am aware of the desire of the family, and some community members, that the defendant be charged with second-degree murder. My obligation as state attorney is to follow the law in each case that I prosecute,” Gladson said in the release.

If found guilty, Lorincz faces up to 30 years in prison for manslaughter with a firearm. If Lorincz had been charged and found guilty of second-degree murder, she could have faced up to a life sentence.

Those close to the tragedy disagree with the charges, however, and had pushed for Lorincz’s charges to be raised to murder, rather than manslaughter. Multiple neighbors reported hearing Lorincz use racial slurs toward the family and often hearing arguments during their long-time feud, according to her arrest affidavit.

Lorincz would often call the police on Owens’ children, claiming they had a “lack of respect for her peace and privacy,” according to the affidavit. The “Gazette” obtained records from several 911 calls on the day of the shooting, two of which were from Lorincz. The first call was to report that she had gotten into an altercation with the Owens family while the children were playing outside and it escalated into a fight, and the second was from Lorincz after she shot Owens through the door. Five other calls were obtained from those on the scene reporting that a woman had been shot, in addition to neighbors who reported hearing an argument and a gunshot.

Lorincz had researched the “stand your ground” law before the shooting took place. She claimed that she fired the gun because she was fearful for her life, due to Owens banging on her door from the outside. Owens did not attempt to enter the home or touch the door handle, and the door was locked with an extra-long deadbolt, according to the arrest affidavit.

Shortly before the formal charges were filed, the Marion County chapter of the NAACP on Monday called for “every charge that is applicable to the crimes that were committed” to be filed against Lorincz.

Following the formal charges, those who have been fighting on Owens’ behalf, through a Facebook page titled “Justice for Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens,” expressed their strong disagreement with Gladson for not pursuing a higher charge.

“The charge of manslaughter is a slap in the face to the four children who AJ left behind, her family, and the community who knew her and those who have organized for justice for nearly a month,” according to the page.

In the release from the state attorney’s office, Gladson said that he fully considered the possibility of charging Lorincz with second-degree murder, but that the act of aiming a firearm at a door and pulling the trigger was not enough to constitute that charge.

“Prior to making this decision, my office consulted with the victim’s family, and their attorney,” Gladson said.

Lorincz was initially charged by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office with manslaughter, negligent exposure to harm, two counts of threat of violence and battery. Gladson explained his decision to drop the second charge of assault in addition to the charges of battery and negligence in the release.

“Sworn testimony provided by the victim’s son after the arrest, indicated that the skate thrown by the defendant did not strike the child, a necessary element of the charge of battery,” Gladson said.

Another child’s testimony did not prove the element of fear, without which the second assault charge could not be filed. Lorincz was initially charged with negligence due to one of Owens’ children being present when she was shot, but that charge was also dropped due to inability to prove that Lorincz knew the child was present, Gladson said.

“The defendant will be prosecuted for the offense of manslaughter with a firearm, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. My office will do all it can to seek justice for Ms. Owens and her family,” Gladson said.