Susan Lorincz allegedly shot and killed neighbor Ajike Owens because her children called her 'Karen'
OCALA, FLORIDA: Newly obtained body-camera footage has provided new insights into the escalating tensions between Susan Lorincz, a white Florida woman, and her black neighbor Ajike "AJ" Owens. Lorincz, 58, is currently facing manslaughter charges in connection with the shooting death of Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four. The incident occurred on June 2 when Lorincz allegedly fired through her apartment door after Owens repeatedly knocked.
According to an arrest affidavit, Owens had visited Lorincz's apartment after learning that Lorincz had taken one of her sons' tablets, thrown it on the ground, and cursed at him. Owens' sons and a neighbor informed the police about the incident. The footage reveals that Owens had also thrown a pair of roller skates at the child. The tragic shooting followed a series of complaints made by Lorincz against Owens, her children, and other neighbors in the preceding months.
Lorincz's complaints
Lorincz's calls to the police included allegations of trespassing, noise disturbances, and instances where the children allegedly called her derogatory names like "Karen." However, no arrests had been made as a result of her complaints. The body-camera videos reviewed by HuffPost depict sheriff's deputies repeatedly explaining to Lorincz and her neighbors that the trespassing claims pertained to areas that were not under her ownership.
Authorities have previously stated that Lorincz admitted to using racial slurs, including the n-word, toward Owens' children. In one video from August 2022, Lorincz claimed that she felt intimidated by the children's behavior, alleging that they screamed, yelled, and insulted her. “I don’t want to be intimidated by them screaming and yelling at me, telling me that I’m a bi**h, calling me ‘Karen’ … I mean, they’re calling me names,” she told deputies, adding that their noise aggravated her migraines and affected her concentration. “There’s other places they can play,” she said.
In one bodycam interview from April, half a dozen children are seen telling a deputy responding to another complaint by Lorincz that she had repeatedly been "aggressive," yelling profanities and racial slurs at them. A 10-year-old girl combing the hair of her mermaid Barbie told the deputy that Lorincz called the neighborhood children the n-word; an older girl said the woman had also called them "sex slave bastards." After the June shooting, Owens' son told police that Lorincz had previously told him, "This isn't the underground railroad, slave," according to the arrest affidavit.
Conflicting accounts
In February 2022, Lorincz reported to the deputies that Owens had struck her with a sign. Although Owens admitted to throwing the sign, she denied that it hit Lorincz. “She has the sign, and she’s basically ramming the sign in my face,” Owens said. She clarified that after Lorincz put the sign down, she had picked it up and thrown it in response.
During one of the police visits in April, a neighbor requested to speak to the deputies present, and in the video, "no trespassing" signs were visible in a field behind him. The neighbor expressed frustration at Lorincz's repeated calls to the police, highlighting that the complaints concerned trivial matters such as children's activities. It was revealed that Lorincz did not own her duplex apartment, and the grass field and other areas where the children played were shared by the community.
According to other neighbors, Lorincz would retaliate against bothersome children and barking dogs by revving her car engine. Additionally, she would park her truck near areas where the children played and trigger her car alarm. In a recorded phone call from November 2022, Lorincz referred to her neighbors as "hooligans" and claimed to be the "perfect neighbor" who didn't bother anyone.
Charges and legal proceedings
Florida prosecutors have decided not to pursue murder charges against Lorincz, as there was insufficient evidence to establish a "depraved mind" required for second-degree murder. Instead, Lorincz has been charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault. Florida State Attorney William "Bill" Gladson explained the reasoning behind the decision, stating, "Depraved mind requires evidence of hatred, spite, ill will, or evil intent toward the victim at the time of the killing. As deplorable as the defendant's actions were in this case, there is insufficient evidence to prove this specific and required element of second-degree murder." Lorincz could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted. In light of the charges, a judge has granted Lorincz a $154,000 bond with the condition that she wears an ankle monitor and stays away from the Owens family.