FL against Susan Lorincz: Trial for shooting with neighbors

OCALA, Fla. (Court TV) – A Florida woman has been convicted of fatally shooting a neighbor.

In June 2023, Susan Lorincz was arrested and charged with manslaughter and assault in connection with the death of Ajike Owens. On August 16, a jury found her guilty of manslaughter.

(L) Susan Lorincz (Marion County Jail), (R) Ajike Owens (Anthony D. Thomas via AP, File)

An affidavit states that on the day of the shooting, Lorincz was observed arguing with children who were playing in a field near her home. During the argument, Lorincz allegedly threw a roller skate at one of Owens' children.

“After learning of this, the victim approached Lorincz's home accompanied by his 10-year-old son. The victim then knocked on Lorincz's door several times and told Lorincz to come outside. Lorincz then fired one shot through the door, striking (the victim) in the upper chest. (The victim) died from the gunshot wound.”

The affidavit also states that Lorincz called 911 as Owens approached her door:

“During the call … Lorincz reported that three juveniles who live across the street were standing at her door and yelling at her. After she was informed that officers were on their way to the location, the call was terminated.”

Minutes later, officers en route received several calls reporting gunshots in the area. Lorincz also called 911 again and “reported that a woman was screaming and attempting to break down her door and fired shots through the door.”

According to authorities, Lorincz had been in conflict with the victim and her children for at least two years.

Lorincz faces up to 30 years in prison. The verdict is expected in November, but a date has not yet been set.

DAILY TEST UPDATES

DAY 4 – 16.8.24

• The jury hears closing arguments
• The jury makes a verdict

DAY 3 – 15.08.24

DAY 2 – 14.08.24

• In a letter to the children of victim AJ Owens, which the lead investigator read to the jury, Susan Lorincz wrote: “I am so, so sorry for your loss. I never wanted to kill your mother. I was terrified that your mother would kill me. I shot out of fear.”
• The jury heard two profanity-laced interviews Susan Lorincz gave to Marion County Sheriff's detectives on 6/3/23 and 6/6/23. The broadcast was choppy throughout, but the audio was clear when you could hear/see it, and there are many usable moments.
  • In both interviews, Lorincz repeatedly stressed that AJ Owens had scared her to death by threatening to kill her while pounding on Lorincz's door with such force that her apartment shook. Lorincz said she felt she was in “imminent danger” and insisted that she told 911 dispatchers about Owens' death threats, although she is not heard mentioning the threats in the 911 call.
  • Lorincz gave mixed statements about whether she intended to kill Owens. At one point she said she did not intend to kill her and that her goal was simply to scare Owens away by firing the gun. However, when asked if she would do it again or “take it back,” she also said, “I did what I felt I had to do.”
  • When investigators asked Lorincz what she thought might happen, she said she thought Owens was going to break down the door and beat her to death. When investigators told Lorincz that no witnesses reported Owens threatening Lorincz, Lorincz said, “I swear to God, I heard, 'I'm going to kill you.'”
  • Lorincz described previous encounters with Owens that she said contributed to her fear of Owens, including an incident in which Owens accused Lorincz of using racial slurs against Owens' children. Lorincz denied using racial slurs against the children, but said she apologized anyway, after which Owens followed her down the street, scaring Lorincz.
  • The jury watched 11 short videos Lorincz filmed on her phone of neighborhood children, including Owens, playing in the field next to her property for 90 minutes before Lorincz made her first call to 911.
  • The last video was recorded at 8:53 p.m., less than a minute before Lorincz called 911 to report the children's trespassing. The 911 call ended at 8:59 p.m. About two minutes later, Lorincz called 911 to report that she had shot Owens. The time codes contradict Lorincz's statement that about 10 minutes passed between her first 911 call and Owens showing up at her door and that Owens banged on her door for two to five minutes.
  • WATCH: 'I was really scared for my life': Jury watches Lorincz's police interrogation
• The state rested.
• The defense called its first witness, neighbor Rosalie Smith, who said she could hear screams coming from Lorincz's house from her home, which was the length of a football field away.
• In testimony outside the presence of the jury, the judge prohibited Smith from using the word “hood” to describe the neighborhood because the word has a “racist connotation” that could be biased because it suggests the neighborhood is “bad because African-Americans live there.”

DAY 1 – 13.8.24

• In opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Adam Smith said Susan Lorincz shot the unarmed AJ Owens through a locked door, and the case will focus on whether the shooting was justified. Lorincz herself reportedly told police she never intended to hit Owens, Smith said.
  • Lorincz's behavior and statements after the shooting suggest that Lorincz was not as afraid of Owens as she now claims, and that Lorincz was more concerned about her cat than Owens. Lorincz had called 911 about the children before Owens showed up at her door and officers were on the way. The two had had problems in the past, but “each went their own way.”
  • REGARD: Shooting trial in the “Knocking Neighbor” case: Opening statement by the prosecution
• Defense attorney Morris Carranza said in his opening statement that the case ultimately came down to Lorincz's “perception and state of mind.” Lorincz — in her “mind… soul… and core” — “felt her life was in danger” and “decided to defend herself.” Lorincz, in her frail, sickly state, felt inferior to Owens, who was younger and larger and had allegedly confronted Lorincz months earlier in her home, banging on Lorincz's door so hard that she damaged it.
  • Carranza played Lorincz's tearful 911 call reporting the shooting, saying it showed Lorincz was terrified. Owens was “furious” on the night in question. She vented her anger by banging on Lorincz's door so hard that the walls in her apartment and the apartment next door shook, and by screaming at Lorincz, “I'm going to f***ing kill you.”
  • REGARD: Knocking Neighbor Shooting Trial: Defense Opening Statement
• The jury heard testimony from several neighbors.
• Officers who arrived at the scene testified. The jury was shown footage from body cameras.