Susan Lorincz, a 58-year-old woman, has been granted a $154,000 bond following her not-guilty plea to manslaughter charges in the death of Ajike Owens, a 34-year-old mother of four. The incident occurred in Ocala, Florida, on June 2nd, stemming from a neighborhood dispute involving Lorincz and Owens' children. Lorincz allegedly shot Owens through her closed front door after an altercation. As part of her bond conditions, Lorincz will be required to wear an ankle monitor and maintain distance from the Owens family. She has stated she only has a small fraction of the bond amount available.
The incident unfolded after Lorincz reportedly had a disagreement with Owens' children who were playing near her residence. According to the Marion County Sheriff's report, Lorincz threw roller skates at the children, striking one of them. Owens subsequently approached Lorincz's home, where she was fatally shot through the closed door with a .380-caliber handgun.
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Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens (Family handout via FOX35 Orlando WOFL)
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Owens was reportedly standing with her 9-year-old son when she was shot. (Family handout via FOX35 Orlando WOFL)
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The incident sparked protests. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Lorincz has asserted self-defense under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, claiming Owens posed a threat. However, Sheriff Billy Woods stated that the investigation did not support this claim. The Sheriff's office revealed a history of disputes between Lorincz and Owens, characterizing it as an ongoing neighborhood feud. Lorincz admitted to using racial slurs towards Owens' children in the past.
Lorincz faces additional charges of culpable negligence, battery, and assault. Lawyers representing the Owens family are advocating for a second-degree murder charge.
