Crime
Florida woman charged with shooting neighbor during dispute
The two women had a longstanding neighborhood feud, police said, adding that they had received multiple calls involving the women since January 2021
June 8, 2023 8:44am
Updated: June 8, 2023 8:44am
A Florida woman was arrested and charged for allegedly shooting her neighbor in front of her 10-year-old son bringing a years-long dispute between the two to an end, authorities said.
On Friday, Susan Louise Lorincz confronted Ajike “AJ” Owen’s two children because they were playing in a field near her home, authorities said. Lorincz yelled at the children and at one point threw a roller skate at a 10-year-old boy, hitting him in the toe.
The boys told their mother what had happened, prompting Owens, 35, to confront Lorincz at her home. After knocking on the door multiple times to get Lorincz to come out, Owens was shot in the upper chest through the door as she was standing next to one of her children, police officers said.
When police responded to a call of trespassing, they found Owens lying on the ground. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she died.
Lorincz, 58, claimed she shot her neighbor in self-defense under Florida’s "Stand Your Ground," which allows individuals to protect themselves with reasonable force to prevent any harm. After investigating the matter, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said that the law did not apply in this case.
"This situation is a prime example of when it was not justified. It was simply a killing," the sheriff said.
Lorincz was arrested on Tuesday and charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault. Manslaughter with a firearm is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
The two women had a longstanding neighborhood feud, police said, adding that they had received multiple calls involving the women since January 2021. According to neighbors, Lorincz had previously harassed the children and used racial slurs against them. On several occasions, she allegedly waved guns at them.
Owens’ children were not the only ones being targeted by Loricz. “She used to come outside all the time and harass our kids," said neighbor Phyllis Willis who has lived in the neighborhood for around 15 years.
"Everybody in this neighborhood has feuded with this lady over our children."
