The death of Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old Florida mother who was shot and killed by her neighbor, has left her children burdened with guilt, according to their grandmother.
Florida Mother Was Shot and Killed
During an episode of “The View” Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, shared that her 9-year-old and 12-year-old grandsons blame themselves for their mother’s untimely demise.
The incident occurred on June 2 when their neighbor, Susan Lorincz, allegedly shot Florida mother Owens through her door following an ongoing dispute, PEOPLE reported.
Dias revealed that Lorincz had been harassing her grandchildren, using racial slurs and making derogatory comments. The situation escalated when Lorincz reportedly threw a roller skate at Florida mother Owens’ 9-year-old son, resulting in a confrontation between Owens and Lorincz.
According to Dias, Lorincz had invited Florida mother Owens to her apartment, creating the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter. Lorincz, however, claimed self-defense, stating that the children were trespassing and had threatened her.
Tragically, during the altercation, a shot was fired, and Florida mother Owens was fatally wounded while her son stood beside her.
Authorities discovered Owens’ body in front of Lorincz’s apartment, leading to charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and assault against Lorincz.
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Florida Mother’s Children Blame Themselves
The emotional toll on Florida mother Owens’ children has been immense, with the 9-year-old feeling responsible for his mother’s death, believing that if he hadn’t left his tablet at Lorincz’s house, the tragedy could have been prevented.
The 12-year-old is undergoing trauma therapy, while Florida mother Owens’ toddler remains unaware but exhibits signs of distress.
Dias expressed her concern over the prevalence of shooting deaths, particularly among people of color, stating that there is a distressing lack of regard for human life and alarming accessibility to firearms.
She criticized Florida’s laws, which she believes promote a “shoot first” mentality. The tragic incident has left Florida mother’s children without their mother’s love and presence.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support the children during this difficult time.
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