Susan Lorincz, 60, is found guilty after fatally shooting Ajike Owens in a dispute over her children playing outside.

A Florida woman has been convicted of manslaughter following the fatal shooting of her Black neighbour, Ajike “AJ” Owens, in a dispute over children playing outside. On Friday, an all-white jury in Central Florida found Susan L Lorincz, 60, guilty of manslaughter after deliberating for two hours during a four-day trial.

The incident took place on 2 June 2023, when Owens’ children were playing in a field near Lorincz’s home in Ocala. Lorincz became involved in an argument with the children, during which she threw a pair of skates at them, injuring Owens’ 10-year-old son. When Owens’ 12-year-old son confronted her, Lorincz opened her door and swung an umbrella at him. The children returned home and informed their mother of the altercation.

This was not the first dispute between the women; they had a history of tension regarding the children playing outside. Lorincz had previously called the police over minor incidents involving Owens, including allegations of throwing a “no trespassing” sign at her in 2022 and repeatedly accessing her mailbox in 2023.

On the day of the shooting, Owens confronted Lorincz by knocking on her door and demanding she come outside. Instead of responding, Lorincz fired a .380-caliber handgun through the door, striking Owens in the chest while her 10-year-old son stood beside her. Owens was later rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Lorincz claimed she acted in self-defence, expressing fear for her life in a letter to Owens’ family. She stated, “I shot out of fear… I was terrified your mom was going to kill me.” Initially, authorities delayed arresting her while they evaluated whether Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which permits the use of deadly force in some situations, applied. However, it was determined that the law did not justify the shooting, as Owens was unarmed at the time.

Lorincz was arrested on 6 June 2023 and charged with manslaughter with a firearm. She faces up to 30 years in prison, with a sentencing hearing to be scheduled. Throughout the trial, Owens’ family expressed their grief and outrage. Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, shouted after the verdict, “She set out to cause harm. She set out to kill.”

The case has sparked national debate over Florida’s “stand your ground” laws, particularly in light of similar incidents where unarmed individuals have been shot while on private property. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented Owens’ family, condemned these laws, stating, “What does it say when a person can shoot and kill an unarmed mother in the presence of her young children and not be immediately taken into custody?”