28 June 2023 , 07:18
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A white woman accused of fatally shooting a black mum in front of her nine-year-old son amid an ongoing feud has been charged with manslaughter.
Mum-of-four Ajike "AJ" Owens, 35, was shot dead through her door on June 2 after suspect Susan Lorincz claimed she had problems for two years with the mum's children, aged 12, 9, 7 and 3.
The 58-year-old told investigators after the alleged shooting she had been "disrespected" by the kids in the neighbourhood of Ocala, Florida, US.
According to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Susan said she had a headache the day of the shooting and that children were running and yelling outside her apartment.
That night, while a few children were playing basketball, the suspect threw a pair of roller skates at them, hitting one on the feet.
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The victim, Ajike Owens, was a Black mother of four (AP)
The shooting occurred when Lorincz fired through her front door (John Raoux/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Ajike then came over and knocked on her door.
Susan told investigators that the mum threatened to kill her and banged on the door so hard she feared her neighbour would break it down.
Susan fired a single round from her 380-caliber handgun, the sheriff’s report says, which went through the closed door and fatally struck Ajike.
The suspect was arrested earlier this month following the fatal shooting - she was formally charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault.
Susan Lorincz has been charged with first-degree felony of manslaughter (AP)
Susan Lorincz has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor and to stay away from the victim's family. (AP)State Attorney William Gladson said his office contemplated filing a second-degree murder charge but that prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence that Susan had “hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent” towards the mum.
“As deplorable as the defendant’s actions were in this case, there is insufficient evidence to prove this specific and required element of second-degree murder,” Mr Gladson said in a statement.
Pamela Dias, second from right, remembers her daughter, Ajike Owens, as mourners gather for a remembrance service at Immerse Church of Ocala for Owens (AP)“I am aware of the desire of the family, and some community members, that the defendant be charged with second-degree murder. My obligation as State Attorney is to follow the law in each case that I prosecute.”
If convicted, the suspect faces up to 30 years in prison.
Amanda Sizemore, Susan's lawyer from the public defender’s office, said she had no comment at this time.
Lawyer Ben Crump embracing Pamela Dias, the mother of the Florida neighbour shooting victim Ajike Owens (Curt Anderson/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Anthony Thomas, a lawyer for Ajike's family, said the decision against filing a second-degree murder charge was disappointing.
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“We firmly believe that justice demands nothing less,” Thomas said in a statement.
“The failure of the prosecutor to charge Susan with what truly reflected her wanton, reckless behaviour undermines our ability to even get real accountability.”
A judge has granted the suspect a $154,000 bond while ordering her to wear an ankle monitor and to stay away from the victim's family.