AURN News with Ebony McMorris

Fatal Shooting of Black Neighbor by White Woman Reignites Stand Your Ground Debate

Lorincz claims self-defense, stating that her neighbor, Ajike "AJ" Owens, had attempted to break down her door and had a history of previous attacks. However, detectives concluded Lorincz's actions were not justified under Florida law.

Ebony McMorris
June 7, 2023

A protester, holds a poster of Ajike Owens at the Marion County Courthouse, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Ocala, demanding the arrest of a woman who shot and killed Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four, last Friday night, June 2. Authorities came under intense pressure Tuesday to bring charges against a white woman who killed Owens, a Black neighbor, on her front doorstep, as they navigated Florida’s divisive stand your ground law that provides considerable leeway to the suspect in making a claim of self defense. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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A white woman from Florida was arrested Tuesday for the fatal shooting of her Black neighbor. Susan Lorincz faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault. The arrest came in response to mounting pressure from the public.

The shooting has brought Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law into the spotlight again. Lorincz claims self-defense, stating that her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, had attempted to break down her door and had a history of previous attacks. However, detectives concluded Lorincz’s actions were not justified under Florida law.

This image taken from video provided by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office shows Susan Lorincz, center, after her arrest in Ocala, Fla., Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Lorincz is accused of fatally shooting her neighbor, Ajike Owens, a Black mother of four. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

The shooting took place Friday night when Owens went to confront Lorincz for throwing a skate at her child. According to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Owens family, Lorincz had directed racial slurs at the children before the confrontation, and when Owens knocked on the door to talk to her about the incident Lorincz fired shots through her metal door, resulting in the tragic death of Owens, a 35-year-old Black mother of four.

Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris is a native Washingtonian and University of South Carolina alumna. Her passion is mentoring young adults by teaching community empowerment and media education. She is an NAB member and board member of the Thurgood Marshall Center and was presented the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing more than 4,000 hours of community service under the Obama Administration.