Florida woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatal shooting of neighbor Ajike Owens

Susan Lorincz was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting her neighbor Ajike “AJ” Owens through a locked door.

The sentencing came after Lorincz was convicted in August of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. Lorincz faced up to 30 years in prison.

The incident occurred in Ocala, Florida on June 2, 2023.

“I find the shooting was completely unnecessary,” Judge Robert Hodges said. “In this case, Ms. Lorincz was behind the door. The door was locked. She had already called law enforcement. They were on their way. She knew they were on their way. She was in a relatively safe position. For some reason she went to her room and found a gun.”

Hodges continued: “She could have stayed in the room and put another locked door between her and Ms. Owens, but she came back out, stood in front of the door, and as she shot through the door, she It was safe.”

“There is no indication that she did not understand what she was doing and that shooting a person was against the law,” the judge also said.

Owens’ family, who had asked for the maximum sentence of 30 years, spoke outside the courtroom Monday evening after Lorincz’s sentencing.

Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, told reporters the family was “pleased” with the 25-year sentence.

“As I said, and as the judge said, this shooting – this murder, this death of a mother, of a daughter, of a friend – should never have happened, but we We got justice today and now we can truly move forward on our journey toward true healing,” Dias said.

Lorincz, who is white, shot Owens, a black mother of four, in the presence of her young son. Owens had approached Lorincz’s door following an argument about his children playing near Lorincz’s home, according to a June 6, 2023 statement from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

During her sentencing hearing, Lorincz recounted various arguments she had with Owens and her children before the shooting and claimed she was “terrified” of Owens. She also denied calling Owens’ children racial slurs.

“I am truly sorry for taking AJ’s life. I never intended to kill her,” Lorincz said in a statement to Owens’ mother and children.

“I am deeply sad. Not only a mother died, but also a daughter, a sister,” Lorincz said. “I think about the loss of your family and I know how hard it is to lose someone you love.”

Asked about Lorincz’s apology, Dias responded: “Susan’s apology was a last-ditch attempt to save herself. for herself. »

“It was a lackluster apology,” she added.

Dias shared a victim impact statement during Monday’s hearing, in which she asked that Lorincz be held “fully accountable” for the fatal shooting.

“Susan’s act of manslaughter left my four grandchildren motherless,” she said. “Unfortunately, Titus, Africa, Israel and Isaac must live the rest of their lives as motherless children.”

“Our pain and suffering did not end when we buried Ajike. Our pain and suffering did not end when Susan was convicted of manslaughter. Our pain and suffering will not end with “Our pain and suffering will last a lifetime,” she added.

Meanwhile, Lorincz’s legal team called a large number of family members and friends who testified on Lorincz’s behalf, emphasizing her Christian faith, her role as her sister’s guardian and her dedication to caring of her nephew, as well as various examples where she supported her friends.

Her sister Ellyn Lorincz testified about the sisters’ allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of their father, and a psychologist testified about Lorincz’s diagnosis of “chronic PTSD.”

Lorincz’s legal team asked the judge to consider probation and said Lorincz would benefit from treatment for PTSD. The prosecution said the Department of Corrections provided mental health treatment and argued that “PTSD was not a driving force” in the case.

Lorincz’s attorney, Amanda Sizemore, declined to comment in response to a request from ABC News.

After a jury found Lorincz guilty on Aug. 16, Judge Robert Hodges said Lorincz would be held without bail in the Marion County Jail until his sentencing.

Before Lorincz’s sentencing hearing, Owens’ family shared a statement with ABC News through their attorney, calling on the judge to award “the maximum sentence under the law.”

They said that while the guilty verdict was an “important milestone,” they were still seeking “justice” in the form of a conviction.

Lorincz pleaded not guilty to the charges she faced in court.

During the trial, her defense team argued that she should be found not guilty because she was acting in self-defense. They said she feared for her life.

Meanwhile, prosecutors argued that Lorincz should be convicted because she shot an “unarmed” Owens through a “locked” door.