Florida Woman Arrested for Manslaughter After Fally Shooting a Black Neighbor
A White Florida woman's arrest concerning the shooting and killing of her Black neighbor has once again brought attention to the state's controversial "stand your ground law," per CBS News.
Susan Lorincz, 58, has been charged with manslaughter and other offenses following the incident, which sparked protests and widespread outrage.
According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the shooting occurred Friday night. It culminated in a long-standing rivalry between Lorincz and Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old Black Florida mother of four.
Both neighbors resided in the serene hills south of Ocala, known as the horse capital of Florida.
Sheriff Billy Woods addressed the incident in a Facebook video late Tuesday night, clarifying that it was not a "stand your ground" case but a straightforward killing.
He explained that the two-and-a-half-year feud between the neighbors led to the tragic outcome. Although some questioned the delay in making an arrest, the sheriff emphasized that he must adhere to the state's laws, even if he disagrees with them.
The sheriff's office released a video showing Lorincz, dressed in shorts, a black top, and a jacket, escorted by two detectives and a deputy along a corridor. The woman walked with her hands clasped behind her back.
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White Florida Woman Fatally Shoots Black Mother of 4
A tragic incident unfolded involving Ajike Owens, a Black Florida mother of four, and her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, in the Quail Run neighborhood of Ocala, Florida June 2 evening. The area is situated near County Road 475A and County Road 484.
According to accounts from relatives and neighbors, Owens' children, aged three to twelve, were playing outside when Lorincz approached them in a field. Allegedly, she directed racial slurs toward the kids and demanded that they leave the area, according to Ocala StarBanner.
Family members assert that at one point, Lorincz took an iPad and threw a pair of skates at one of the children, resulting in a broken toe. It was reported that when deputies approached Lorincz's residence, she opened the door and swung her umbrella at them.
Upon learning about the altercation, Owens exited her car and went to Lorincz's house, knocking on the door to speak with her. Owens purportedly requested a conversation outside.
It is alleged that Lorincz fired shots through her door, striking Owens in the shoulder in the presence of her nine-year-old child. Owens was rushed to a local hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries that day. The following day, a candlelight vigil was held in her memory.
Records indicate that between the two individuals involved, there had been approximately six complaints filed over the previous two years.
Black Florida Mother's Kids Feel Guilty Over Their Mom's Death
One of Owens's children, a 9-year-old boy, is burdened with guilt, believing he is to blame for his mother's murder, CNN noted.
He blames himself for being the first to inform his mother about the confrontation with their neighbor.
"In his soul, in his heart, it's his fault that his older brother, his baby sister, and his baby brother, as well as himself, will never see their mother again," Owens's mother, Pamela Dias, told reporters Wednesday.
Dias, shared the heart-wrenching details during a press conference held the day after the arrest of a 58-year-old Florida woman who allegedly shot Owens.
She revealed that another child blames himself for being unable to save their mother through CPR.
"Grandma, grandma. I couldn't save her," Dias recalled the 12-year-old boy telling her.
Owens's family and legal representatives held a press conference on Monday, demanding justice for her senseless and unprovoked killing. According to Dias, Owens had acted like any concerned parent would.
She had approached the neighbor's door unarmed, seeking answers and wanting to discuss the incident involving her 9-year-old son with another adult.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
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