Authorities announced late Tuesday that Susan Lorincz, 58, of Florida, had been arrested and charged for the shooting death of her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, that occurred last Friday.
The incident was the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-year-long feud between the two neighbors, which began when Owens’ children were playing outside, and Lorincz yelled at them and threw a pair of skates that hit one of the children. Numerous protests had occurred, calling for the shooter’s arrest.
Sheriff Billy Woods stated that Lorincz’s fate is now in the hands of the judicial system and that he will be saying a prayer for Owens’ children and the rest of her family.
The charges against Lorincz include manslaughter with a firearm and culpable negligence as children were present during the commission of the crime. She is also charged with assault and battery against Owens’ kids from the earlier altercation. Lorincz had claimed she shot Owens in self-defense and accused Owens of trying to break down her door.
Witnesses Smith, who lives across the street from the scene of the shooting, reported that Owens’ 10-year-old son was with her at the time of the shooting and saw Lorincz throw the skates and yell racial slurs at Owens’ kids. It is yet to be confirmed if race was a factor in this incident.
Sheriff Woods also added that since January 2021, deputies responded at least six times in connection with the feuding between Owens and the shooter.
“My baby was so full of life. She was a single mother of four,” said Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, during a news conference on Monday.