June 26th 2023.
Prosecutors in the case involving the killing of Ajike “AJ” Owens have announced that they will not be filing murder charges against Susan Lorincz, citing "insufficient evidence," CNN reports.
State attorney Bill Gladson announced on Monday that the state would instead be charging Lorincz with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault. Lorincz is a 58-year-old white woman from Marion Country, Florida accused of shooting her neighbor, Owens, after Owens repeatedly knocked on her door. It is believed that Owens was there to confront Lorincz due to her being angry that Owens' children were playing outside too close to her apartment.
Gladson explained that to charge Lorincz with murder, his team would have to prove that she had a "depraved mind" when the shooting occurred. This was something they could not do. Gladson added that he had spoken with the Owens family and their attorney before making his decision to ensure that justice would be sought.
In a statement, Gladson said, "I can assure you that the decision was thoughtful and made without consideration of any factors other than the specific facts of this terrible crime." He further stated, "My office will do all it can to seek justice for Ms. Owens and her family."
Lorincz claims that she did not mean to hit Owens and was scared for her life. She did admit to using racial slurs against some of the children in the neighborhood, which aligns with what the Owens family previously reported - that Lorincz had been harassing Owens and her children prior to the shooting.
Lorincz is currently in the Marion County Jail where she is held on a $154,000 bond, though she has only been able to post $1,700. It is unclear what the outcome of her trial will be, but Gladson's decision to not pursue a murder charge has been approved by the wishes of the Owens family and community members.
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