Jury reaches guilty verdict in Marion County neighbor shooting trial: ‘We’ve achieved some justice for Ajike’

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Jurors reached a verdict on Friday on the manslaughter charge against Susan Lorincz, the woman accused of shooting through her front door and killing Ajike “AJ” Owens in Ocala.

The jury found Lorincz guilty on the charge of manslaughter. She will remain in the Marion County Jail until her sentencing.

After the verdict, Owens’ family, friends, and attorney spoke to the media. Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, shared her thanks to the jury for the verdict.

“I find some peace with that verdict,” said Dias. “My daughter is gone forever, the children’s mother is gone forever, but we’ve achieved some justice for Ajike. My heart is a little lighter now that we are on the path of true healing.”

During deliberations, jurors asked the judge if they could hear the 911 calls from the night of the shooting once more. The judge granted the request.

Jurors also asked for clarification on how the doorframe was damaged. The judge denied the request saying the jury needed to make that determination themselves.

In the morning, prosecutors and defense attorneys presented their closing arguments to the jury before deliberations began.

The prosecution stated that despite claims from the defense, no witnesses heard Owens telling Lorincz “I’m going to kill you,” that there was no damage to the Lorincz’s front door despite Owens’ pounding, no warning shot was fired, and Lorincz never claimed that she feared Owens had a weapon.

Assistant State Attorney Rich Buxman said, “Well look at the placement of the shot that she fired. She took aim, she leveled the gun at the door. She aimed directly where a person would be if the person was knocking at the door, at a height consistent with where Ms. Owens would be and pulled the trigger.”

The defense argued that the psychology expert stated situations can feel longer when someone is in the moment which goes along with Lorincz saying it was ten minutes rather than the two and a half detectives say it was.

Defense lawyers also reminded jurors that although Lorincz’s landlord said the door was structurally sound, he didn’t test it.

Assistant Public Defender Amanda Sizemore states, “The crack goes all the way down the frame, almost all the way down. Was it reasonable for Susan Lorincz to hear a crack when Aijke Owens was banging so hard on that? Absolutely.”

The defense also claims that it was fully within Lorincz’s rights to stand her ground in her home.

The Owen’s Family provided the following statement:

As we stand on the brink of a verdict in the trial of our beloved Ajike, our hearts are heavy with the weight of anticipation. This trial has been a grueling and emotional journey, one that has forced us to confront the deep wounds of our loss and the broader injustices that persist in our society.

“As we await the verdict, my heart is heavy with the weight of what this decision means for my family and for all those who have been touched by this tragedy,” says Pamela Dias, AJ’s mother. “No matter the outcome, I am committed to honoring my daughter Ajike's memory by continuing to seek justice, not only for her but for every family who has faced a similar loss. This trial has been an incredibly difficult journey, but I believe in the power of truth and justice. I hope that the verdict will reflect the gravity of what has been taken from us, and I pray that we can find some peace and begin the healing process as we move forward.”

AJ’s death is not just a singular tragedy; it reflects the systemic racism that continues to permeate every facet of American life. Her story is a stark reminder of the countless lives that have been unjustly taken, the families that have been shattered, and the communities that live in fear of racial violence. We must face the uncomfortable truth that this trial, like so many others, speaks to a larger narrative—a narrative where Black lives are devalued, where prejudice and bias still hold sway, and where justice is not always blind.

Yet, in this moment of deep sorrow and reflection, we hold on to hope. We hope that this verdict will be a step toward recognizing the humanity in each of us, regardless of the color of our skin. We hope that it will be a catalyst for change, prompting a deeper examination of the structures and systems that allow such tragedies to occur. And above all, we hope that AJ’s life, her legacy, and her light will continue to inspire and drive the fight for equality and justice.

As we await the jury’s decision, we ask for your prayers, your support, and your continued commitment to justice. This is not just about AJ—this is about all of us, and the future we want to build for our children. We are united in our grief, but we are also united in our hope for a better tomorrow.

Attorneys representing Lorincz finished presenting their case on Thursday. After the last witness was called, Lorincz was asked by the judge if she would like to testify. She declined.

The defense called a ballistics expert as their first witness of the day. Josh Write testified based on his review of the evidence that Lorincz was likely further from the door than the prosecutors suggested when she fired.

Write says crime scene photos and measurements indicate Lorincz was near her dining room table when she shot through the door about 12-15 feet away.

Write added that the shell casing bounced off a wall or painting and ended up on Lorincz’s kitchen counter, but prosecutors cast doubt on that claim.

RELATED: Prosecution rests in Marion County neighbor shooting trial

When asked if he considered if the defendant could have picked up the shell casing and put it on the table, Write responded by saying nobody mentioned moving the shell casing.

“I never read anywhere that that was done by the defendant or by crime scene or officers at the scene,” Write said. “Nobody mentioned picking up the casing and putting it on the counter. It would be abnormal for any of those people to do that.”

The next witness was Toby Terpsta, a 3D Forensic Analyst, who was asked to reconstruct the environment when the shooting took place.

Terpsta visited Lorincz’s home in February and took pictures even though the inside is different now due to a new person living in the home.

On Wednesday, prosecutors brought Lorincz’s entire front door into the courtroom. They showed where the bullet went through the door and struck Owens outside the home as she stood next to her son.

Lorincz claimed she fired at her neighbor out of fear for her life. She had a history of confrontations with Owens’ children who often played in the neighborhood.

“I hope that the verdict will reflect the gravity of what has been taken from us, and I pray that we can find some peace and begin the healing process as we move forward” said Ajike Owens mother Pamela Dias.

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