Jury selection is underway in the trial of Susan Lorincz, a Florida woman charged with fatally shooting her neighbor Ajike “AJ” Owens, a Black mother of four, in 2023.
The incident stemmed from a dispute involving Owens’ children playing near Lorincz’s home in Marion County, Florida.
Lorincz faces a first-degree felony manslaughter charge, carrying a potential sentence of up to 30 years if convicted. She has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.
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Owens’ family has persistently called for a second-degree murder charge, but the State Attorney stated there was insufficient evidence to support it.
“In making the filing decision on this case, my office carefully examined the viability of both second-degree murder and manslaughter with a firearm, both first-degree felonies. In order to prove the crime of second-degree murder, the State must prove, beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt, the existence of a depraved mind toward the victim at the time of the killing. A depraved mind requires evidence of hatred, spite, ill will, or evil intent toward the victim at the time of the killing. 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,” said State Attorney William “Bill” Gladson.
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Video footage released by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office shows Lorincz claiming self-defense during her interrogation, stating Owens threatened to kill her. However, detectives countered that no other witnesses corroborated this claim.
The tragic incident has deeply impacted Owens’ family, who continue to grieve her loss and seek justice. The trial is expected to shed light on the events leading up to the shooting and determine Lorincz’s culpability.
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