Susan Lorincz, the Florida woman who fatally shot her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, through a closed door in June 2023, was found guilty of first-degree felony manslaughter.
The verdict, delivered on Friday, means Lorincz now faces up to 30 years behind bars.
Lorincz, who is white, fired the fatal shot on June 2, 2023, killing Owens, a Black mother of four, as she stood outside Lorincz’s locked apartment door. Owens had gone to confront Lorincz after the older woman allegedly threw objects at Owens’ children while they played outside.
Lorincz was arrested and charged with first-degree felony manslaughter just days after the shooting.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Lorincz’s actions were unjustified, emphasizing that Owens was unarmed and that the door was locked. “Ms. Owens was banging on the door telling the defendant to come out,” stated prosecutor Rich Buxman in his closing argument. “Belief that there was an immediate or imminent danger, such that deadly force was necessary at that time, was simply unreasonable.”
The defense claimed Lorincz acted in self-defense, fearing for her life during the confrontation. Her attorney, Amanda Sizemore, argued that Lorincz genuinely believed she was in mortal danger and urged the jury to acquit her if they had any reasonable doubt about her guilt.
Despite Lorincz’s plea of not guilty, the jury found the evidence sufficient to convict her.
