The terrified son of a woman allegedly shot dead by her neighbor through a door called the police saying ‘she was only knocking on the door’ minutes after the fatal shooting.
Ajike ‘AJ ‘ Owens, 35, was struck by a single bullet to her chest in front of her son, 10, after going over to her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, 58, amid a bitter two-year dispute between the pair.
Insurance agent Lorincz told police during her interview that Owens’ children had been ‘trespassing’ on her property in Ocala, Florida, and one threatened to ‘beat her up’.
The mother-of-four went over to Lorincz’ home to confront her over allegations she threw a rollerblade at one of her children earlier in the day and smashed a tablet, before swinging an umbrella at them.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Lorincz was charged on Tuesday with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault.
Ajike ‘AJ ‘ Owens (pictured), 35, was struck by a single bullet to her chest in front of her son, 10, after going over to her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, 58, amid a bitter two-year dispute between the pair
Authorities came under pressure to arrest and charge Lorincz in a case that has put Florida’s divisive stand-your-ground law back into the spotlight – with Sheriff Billy Woods describing it as ‘simply a killing’.
An arrest affidavit revealed that Lorincz had called 911 at 8.54pm on June 2 to complain that the children were trespassing, telling officers that they were shouting outside her door.
Minutes later, officers then received several other emergency calls advising shots heard in the area, with Lorincz calling again to say that a ‘female tried to break down her door while yelling’ and she shot her.
Owens reportedly told her son, 12, to call 911 after being hit by the bullet, with the young boy telling officers she ‘ was only knocking on the door’. She was rushed to hospital, where she later died.
When speaking to officers after her arrest, Lorincz claimed that Owens screamed: ‘I’m going to f***ing kill you!’.
She said she ‘banged on the door so hard everything started shaking and she thought the door was going to come off.’
Lorincz then ‘panicked’ and thought: ‘Oh my god she’s really going to kill me this time’, before fetching her firearm from a trashcan in her bedroom.
The police report states that Lorincz also claims that Owens said: ‘You don’t talk to my sons, I’m going to f***ing kill you!’
Insurance agent Lorincz told police during her interview that Owens’ children had been ‘trespassing’ on her property in Ocala, Florida, and one threatened to ‘beat her up’
An arrest affidavit revealed that Lorincz had called 911 at 8.54pm on June 2 to complain that the children were trespassing, telling officers that they were shouting outside her door
Owens reportedly told her son, 12, to call 911 after being hit by the bullet, with the young boy telling officers she ‘ was only knocking on the door’. She was rushed to hospital, where she later died
Lorincz said that she fired the Remington 380 gun from her kitchen and admitted to owning a 22 Ruger – claiming she only purchased the gun ‘for protection after an altercation’ with Owens.
She told cops that she felt like she was in ‘mortal danger’ and was ‘fearful for her life’, before claiming she ‘never intended to hit the victim’ and she ‘hit really high’.
Lorincz was seen hanging her head as she walked with her hands cuffed behind her back following her arrest, is expected to make a virtual appearance before a judge on Thursday.
An affidavit also shows that there were two surveillance cameras inside of Lorincz residents, with one facing the patio and the other attached to the sliding door.
She claimed that the cameras are functional but only record motion and ‘at night sometimes do not capture’ anything.’
The cameras are accessible through her phone, and after initially declining to give the passcode, Lorincz handed over the phone and officers could not see any recording after 8.40pm the night of the incident. She denied deleting any recordings.
A patched bullet hole, upper right, is seen on a door where Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four was shot and killed on Friday night
Lorincz said that she fired the Remington 380 gun from her kitchen and admitted to owning a 22 Ruger – claiming she only purchased the gun ‘for protection after an altercation’ with Owens
Authorities came under pressure to arrest and charge Lorincz in a case that has put Florida’s divisive stand-your-ground law back into the spotlight – with Sheriff Billy Woods describing it as ‘simply a killing’
Owens’ home in Ocala, Florida, where she lived with her four kids, was close to the property of Lorincz
Officers also admitted that Lorincz was left in possession of her phone for two hours after being placed inside of a police car – and footage shows her accessing it briefly.
However, it is unclear what she did on the phone from the view of the camera, and it was subsequently taken into evidence.
Lorincz also claimed that Owens previously ripped a ‘metal no trespassing sign’ out of the ground and threw it at her, but no arrests were ever made.
Police records show that authorities have been called at least six times since 2021 in relation to Lorincz and Owens.
In February 2022 and April 2023, Lorincz complained that Owens’ dog was on her property and accused Owens of opening her mailbox – though no mail was missing.
Lorincz had no official criminal records prior to the shooting, though she had one count of speeding in 2008 dismissed and received an adjudication withheld for a second incident in 2012.
Court documents also show that she sued her car insurance company in 2020 for $30,000 after she was hit by an uninsured driver and was left ‘severely injured’.
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The files, obtained by DailyMail.com, say that Lorincz suffered ‘loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, mental anguish, medical expense, loss of past earnings, and loss of ability to earn money.
When interviewed by police, one of Owens’ sons claimed that Lorincz had previously called them ‘B******’ and ‘jack****s’ as well as saying: ‘This isn’t the underground railroad, slave’
Police records show that authorities have been called at least six times since 2021 in relation to Lorincz and Owens
‘No justice, No Peace!’ was shouted over the bull horn as about 100 people gathered on the Ocala downtown square Tuesday afternoon
It added that she had ‘injuries that are permanent in nature and will continue to suffer losses in the future’ though the outcome of the case is not clear as the insurance company denied some of the claims.
Neighbors told police that Lorincz was upset by ‘kids being kids’ and they didn’t understand why, before admitting they had heard allegations she made ‘racial slurs’ at the children.
When interviewed by police, one of Owens’ sons claimed that Lorincz had previously called them ‘B******’ and ‘jack****s’ as well as saying: ‘This isn’t the underground railroad, slave’.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Sheriff Billy Woods said, ‘I want to thank my detectives for working tirelessly to investigate this case fully.
‘I also want to thank Ms. Owens’ family for their patience as we conducted the diligent investigation that we were bound by law to conduct.
‘Ms. Lorincz’s fate is now in the hands of the judicial system which I trust will deliver justice in due course. I will be saying a prayer for Ms. Owens’ children and the rest of her family. I’d ask all of you to do the same.’
Owens family is being represented by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who said they are ‘relieved’ that Lorincz has been arrested.
The attorney previously represented the family of teenager Ralph Yarl,16, who was shot while knocking on the door of Andrew Lester, 84, looking for his two younger brothers in Missouri.
Pamela Dias (left) mother to Ajike Owens, stands next to Attorney Anthony Thomas (right) during a press conference
Owens family is being represented by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who said they are ‘relieved’ that Lorincz has been arrested
About 50-60 people made their way to the Marion County Judicial Center to protest Tuesday afternoon
Demonstrators gather to protest Tuesday afternoon, June 6, 2023, when no arrest had been made in the fatal shooting of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens. Susan Louise Lorincz has since been arrested
Missouri and Florida are among about 30 states that have stand your ground laws.
In a statement Crump said: ‘While we are relieved that the woman apparently responsible for the tragic killing of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens has been arrested, we are no less concerned that accountability has taken this long because archaic laws like Stand Your Ground exist.
‘What does it say when a person can shoot and kill an unarmed mother in the presence of her young children, and not be immediately taken into custody, questioned, and charged?
‘We will remain vigilant in seeking justice for AJ and other people of color, like Ralph Yarl, who simply knocked on a door and was met with the barrel of a gun.
‘We must eradicate laws like Stand Your Ground that only contribute to the lawlessness of our country and the disproportionate maiming and killing of people of color. This is an important step in a necessary journey to justice for AJ.’
A GoFundMe page has since been set up for Owens’ family – helping to support funeral and memorial costs, the children’s education, and housing and living expenses for the family.
So far close to $149,000 has been raised to support the bereaved family with a target of $500,000.
Tributes have also been left near to the area where Owens was shot, with protestors also demonstrating outside the courthouse and police station.
During a vigil with the family later Monday, Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, said that she was seeking justice for her daughter and her grandchildren.
‘My daughter, my grandchildren’s mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her,’ Dias said. ‘She had no weapon. She posed no imminent threat to anyone.’
