OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Judge Robert Hodges has sentenced Susan Lorincz to 25 years in prison in the shooting death of Ajike “AJ” Owens of Ocala.
More details on the sentencing to come.
Original article published 11.25.24 at 9:45 a.m.: Susan Lorincz, a 60-year-old Ocala resident, will be sentenced Monday, Nov. 25, for the 2023 fatal shooting of her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens. Lorincz was convicted of manslaughter in August and faces up to 30 years in prison.
The shooting occurred on June 2, 2023, following a long-standing dispute between Lorincz and Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four. Prosecutors said Owens went to Lorincz’s home after her children reported that Lorincz had thrown roller skates and an umbrella at them. Owens pounded on Lorincz’s door and yelled, prompting Lorincz to fire a single shot through the door, fatally wounding Owens.
|TRENDING: Lorincz found guilty in neighbor’s shooting death, faces up to 30 years in prison
During the trial, Lorincz claimed she acted in self-defense, telling detectives, “I thought I was in imminent danger.” She also alleged that Owens had harassed her for years. However, prosecutors argued there was no evidence to support Lorincz’s life being at risk.
The jury found Lorincz guilty, rejecting her self-defense claim. Assistant Public Defender Amanda Sizemore has asked for a sentence below the state minimum of 11.5 years, citing mitigating factors such as Lorincz’s mental health and claims that Owens was the aggressor.
Owens’ family has called for the maximum sentence. “While the pain of losing Ajike, we are hopeful that justice will prevail and that the court will give Susan Lorincz the maximum penalty for her actions,” Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, said in a statement.
The case has drawn attention to issues of neighborhood disputes and self-defense claims, with the upcoming sentencing marking a critical moment for both families.