Susan Lorincz, a 58-year-old White Florida woman has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter with a firearm and assault in the shooting death of her Black neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens.
Florida Woman Allegedly Shot Neighbor
The incident occurred on June 2, when Florida woman Lorincz allegedly shot Owens through a closed door during a dispute over children playing outside near her home in Marion County.
Investigators have revealed that Florida woman Lorincz became agitated due to the presence of several neighborhood children, including Owens’ children, playing near her residence.
According to CNN, the Owens family informed them that Florida woman Lorincz had harassed them and used racial slurs against them before the fatal shooting. These allegations have added further complexity to the case.
According to an arrest affidavit, Lorincz told the police that she did not intend to shoot Owens and claimed she felt threatened and fearful for her own life.
The affidavit also revealed that Lorincz admitted to using racial slurs against neighborhood children in the past.
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Florida Woman Pleads Not Guilty
Florida woman Lorincz waived her arraignment and submitted a written plea of not guilty, according to court officials. Lorincz’s next court appearance is expected to take place in September according to Rhaiza Robles, a spokesperson from Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit Court.
As of now, Lorincz has not been able to post the $154,000 bond set for her release.
Rich Buxman, representing State Attorney Bill Gladson’s Office, stated that Lorincz’s public defender, Amanda Sizemore, declined to comment on the plea.
If convicted, Lorincz could face a maximum prison sentence of up to 30 years, as stated by State Attorney Bill Gladson in a previous statement.
During a news conference, family attorney Anthony Thomas called for the maximum sentence of 30 years, emphasizing the severity of the incident.
The state attorney’s office carefully considered the possibility of second-degree murder charges.
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