White Florida girl to be sentenced for fatally taking pictures Ajike Owens, her Black neighbor

A white girl in Florida shall be sentenced Monday for fatally taking pictures her neighbor, a Black mom of 4, in a case that sparked outrage and yet one more nationwide reckoning over gun violence and racism.

A jury convicted Susan Lorincz, 60, of manslaughter in August for killing Ajike Owens exterior of her dwelling in Ocala on June 2, 2023. Owens, who glided by the title A.J., was 35 when she died. Ocala is a small metropolis situated about 80 miles northwest of Orlando.

Lorincz confronted a most sentence of 30 years imprisonment on the costs initially introduced towards her after the taking pictures — one rely of manslaughter with a firearm and one rely of assault — Invoice Gladson, the state lawyer for Florida’s fifth judicial district, introduced later in June that 12 months. In Florida, the lead prosecutor in every district is named a state lawyer.

The authorities and prosecutors concerned got here beneath scrutiny within the wake of Owens’ dying, partially due to the selection to cost Lorincz with manslaughter as a substitute of second-degree homicide, in addition to the very fact Lorincz was not instantly taken into custody when the crime occurred. 

Florida’s “stand your floor” regulation, a controversial doctrine adopted in a number of U.S. states that permits people to make use of power in self-defense situations, performed a job in these selections. The regulation has come up in related instances in Missouri and elsewhere lately, after first getting into mainstream public consciousness in reference to the lethal taking pictures of Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager, close to Miami in 2012.

“In making the submitting resolution on this case, my workplace fastidiously examined the viability of each second diploma homicide and manslaughter with a firearm, each first diploma felonies,” Gladson’s workplace stated in an announcement as soon as Lorincz’s costs have been revealed. A second-degree homicide cost required “proof of hatred, spite, in poor health will or evil intent towards the sufferer on the time of the killing,” which the Marion County sheriff’s prison investigation didn’t sufficiently discover, in keeping with the state lawyer.

“As deplorable because the defendant’s actions have been on this case, there may be inadequate proof to show this particular and required factor of second diploma homicide,” that assertion continued. It famous costs for second-degree homicide and manslaughter with a firearm are each first-degree felonies.

Lorincz shot Owens throughout an ongoing dispute between them over youngsters within the neighborhood, together with Owens’ youngsters, apparently enjoying within the space round Lorincz’s residence, in keeping with trial testimony and the arrest affidavit for Owens.

Authorities stated Owens approached the door of Lorincz’s dwelling the day of the taking pictures to confront her, after studying the older girl had engaged in an argument with the youngsters exterior, shouted, and threw a curler skate at one in all them. 

Owens’ 10-year-old son accompanied her to Lorincz’s residence, the place she knocked on Lorincz’s door and demanded she come exterior. Lorincz proceeded to fireside a .380-caliber handgun by the door, hanging Owens within the higher chest. Owens was unresponsive by the point authorities arrived on the scene and later pronounced lifeless at a hospital. 

The door to Lorincz’s dwelling was locked when she fired the shot and Owens was unarmed.

Owens’ mom, Pamela Dias, informed “CBS Mornings” the week after her dying that her grandson witnessed the taking pictures and felt responsible he couldn’t save his mom. He was the 10-year-old little one hit by the curler skate.

“I nonetheless cannot consider this occurred,” Dias stated. “When does an individual get shot for knocking on a door?” 

Attorneys for Lorincz claimed all through her trial that the lady fired her gun in self-defense, the identical stance she took in interviews with regulation enforcement after Owens’ dying. Lorincz informed authorities she feared for her life when Owens approached her dwelling, and simply “fired the gun” as a result of she felt she was in “mortal hazard,” in keeping with the arrest affidavit. 

She additionally stated a previous altercation with Owens was the explanation she bought the handgun, which Lorincz stated she had used solely a handful of instances at a taking pictures vary, the earlier 12 months. Witnesses informed regulation enforcement investigating the taking pictures that Lorincz was recognized to harass youngsters within the neighborhood and name them, together with Owens’ youngsters, horrendous racist slurs. Lorincz admitted to a few of these allegations in conversations with detectives however denied she deliberately threw a curler skate at a baby earlier than the taking pictures.

Following a weeklong trial, a jury, which consisted solely of white jurors, in keeping with the Related Press, discovered Lorincz responsible of manslaughter with a firearm on Aug. 16.

“This case is undoubtedly a tragic reminder of the devastating penalties of gun violence. The defendant’s selections have left 4 younger youngsters with out their mom, a loss that shall be felt for the remainder of their lives,” stated Gladson, whose assistant attorneys prosecuted the case, in an announcement. “Whereas right this moment’s verdict cannot carry AJ again, we hope it brings some measure of justice and peace to her household and buddies.” 

Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who famously represented the households of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, and others in high-profile litigation over racial violence, additionally represented Owens’ household on this case. Crump known as Lorincz’s conviction “a essential step in securing justice” for Owens and her household in a separate assertion after the decision got here down.

“We’re profoundly grateful that the jury has delivered a responsible verdict on this heartbreaking case. AJ Owens was a faithful mom whose life was tragically reduce brief, leaving her youngsters, together with a younger son who witnessed this horrific act, to hold the burden of her loss,” his assertion stated. “Whereas nothing can erase the ache they’ve endured, right this moment’s resolution sends a transparent message that mindless violence shall be met with accountability. We are going to proceed to face by AJ’s household as they heal and struggle for a future the place no household has to expertise such devastating loss.”