Florida woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting black neighbor

A white Florida woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison for manslaughter after fatally shooting her black neighbor during a prolonged argument.
Susan Lorincz, 60, was convicted in August for the murder of Ajike “AJ” Owens, 35, in June 2023, following a confrontation outside Lorincz’s Ocala home. The two women argued over Owens’ children playing near Lorincz’s property.
The dispute between the neighbors had been going on for some time. Owens, a mother of four, had shown up at Lorincz’s door to confront her about allegedly throwing objects at her children — which Lorincz denied. According to testimony, Owens was knocking on Lorincz’s door when she fired a single shot through it.
Lorincz claimed she acted in self-defense, saying she feared for her life and had been harassed by Owens for years. However, the jury did not accept this assertion.
Although she faces up to 30 years in prison, Lorincz received a slightly reduced sentence from Circuit Judge Robert Hodges, who took into account her troubled childhood and mental health issues. “The shooting was completely unnecessary in this case,” Judge Hodges said. “I think the shooting was motivated more by anger than fear.”
In a statement to the court, Lorincz expressed regret over the tragedy, saying: “I so wish I could go back and change things so that she was still here. I never intended to kill anyone.”
Owens’ family, who pushed for Lorincz to receive the maximum sentence, shared their grief over the loss, with Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, saying: “We are suffering from a pain that will never disappear. »
Lorincz’s attorney argued for a lighter sentence, citing his mental health and saying Owens was the aggressor. However, the judge highlighted the lasting impact on Owens’ children, who will grow up without their mother.