A Marion County judge has granted bond to the 58-year-old Ocala woman who fatally shot her neighbor last week.
Susan Louise Lorincz was arrested on Wednesday, June 7, for manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault in connection with the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Ajike “AJ” Owens.
On Friday, June 2, at approximately 9 p.m., Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 1600 block of SW 107th Lane in Ocala after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located Owens in front of Lorincz’s apartment.
Owens had sustained a gunshot wound, and deputies rendered aid until Marion County Fire Rescue arrived on scene. Owens was then transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital where she succumbed to her fatal injuries.
MCSO Major Crimes detectives responded to the scene of the shooting and launched an investigation. During that evening and the days that followed, detectives interviewed multiple witnesses, including the victim’s children. Lorincz was also interviewed by detectives.
In addition to the interviews, MCSO stated that detectives gathered forensic evidence, digital evidence, and surveillance footage that was obtained from various sources. Detectives also reviewed the details of “six to eight” prior incidents and calls for service involving both Lorincz and the victim.
According to MCSO, the evidence that was gathered during the investigation showed that Lorincz had become angry at the victim’s children over a period of time because they were playing in a field close to her home.
On the night of the fatal shooting, Lorincz engaged in an argument with the victim’s children, and a neighbor overheard Lorincz “yelling at them.” During this argument, MCSO stated that Lorincz threw a roller skate at the victim’s 9-year-old son, and it struck his toe.
After this incident, the victim’s 9-year-old child and his 12-year-old brother both approached Lorincz’s apartment to speak with her. When Lorincz opened her front door, she swung at the children with an umbrella, according to MCSO.
The two children returned home and told the victim what had happened. The victim then approached Lorincz’s home, knocked on the front door multiple times, and demanded that Lorincz come outside. MCSO stated that Lorincz proceeded to fire one shot through the door, which struck the victim in her upper chest. At the time of the fatal shooting, the victim’s 9-year-old son was standing nearby.
During an interview with detectives, Lorincz claimed that she had acted in self-defense. She stated that the victim had been “trying to break down her door” prior to the gunshot being fired. She further claimed that the victim had “come after her” in the past and had previously attacked her, according to MCSO.
The sheriff’s office held a press conference on Monday, June 5, and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods stated, “Most states don’t have the Stand Your Ground law. What a lot of people don’t understand is that law has specific instructions for us in law enforcement. And anytime that we think or perceive or believe that that might come into play, we cannot make an arrest.”
After a thorough investigation was conducted, which included statements from multiple eyewitnesses, MCSO detectives determined that Lorincz’s actions “were not justifiable under Florida law.” She was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail on Wednesday, June 7.
Lorincz is currently being held at Marion County Jail on $154,000 bond: $150,000 for the manslaughter charge, and $1,000 for each of the four remaining misdemeanor charges. If Lorincz posts bond, she will be required to wear an ankle monitor prior to leaving jail, and she will be unable to leave the state of Florida. Her passport must also be surrendered.
In addition, Lorincz must be accompanied by another person to retrieve her belongings from her residence, and she cannot return to the victim’s residence or have any contact with the victim’s family. She is also unable to possess any firearms or weapons.
Lorincz is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11, according to jail records.