A Florida woman, Susan Lorincz, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting her neighbor, Ajike “A.J.” Owens, a Black mother of four, in June 2023. Lorincz, 60, was convicted of manslaughter after shooting Owens in the chest through her front door during a dispute involving neighborhood children.
Owens, 35, had confronted Lorincz after learning she had argued with the kids and thrown a roller skate at one of them. The shooting sparked national outrage and renewed discussions on gun violence and racism, especially given Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law. Lorincz’s defense claimed she acted in self-defense, but witnesses said she had harassed children with racist slurs. The case, marked by a mostly white jury, highlights the lasting consequences of gun violence and racial tensions. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump called the conviction a crucial step toward justice for Owens’ family.