MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday night that a woman has been arrested in connection with a recent fatal shooting in Ocala.
Sheriff’s investigators said they have charged 58-year-old Susan Lorincz in the killing of 35-year-old Ajike Owens.
Lorincz’s charges include involuntary manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, assault and two counts of assault, officials said.
READ: Woman deputies say killed neighbor in Marion County arrested
According to a news release issued by MCSO, on June 2, deputies were en route to investigate a trespassing report in the 1600 block of Lane 107 in Ocala.
While responding, they received a separate report of a shooting at the same location.
Deputies arrived and said they found Owens outside Lorincz’s apartment, suffering from a gunshot wound. They tried to provide life-saving assistance to Owens before paramedics took her to a hospital, but she died, investigators said.
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The sheriff’s office said its Major Crimes Unit immediately began investigating the incident, conducting interviews with witnesses to the shooting, including Owens’ own children.
Detectives said they also interviewed Lorincz.
READ: Ocala mother of four killed in possible ‘Stand Your Ground’ case.
They said they gathered and reviewed forensic and digital evidence, surveillance footage they obtained from multiple sources, along with previous “incidents and calls for service” involving the two women.
Detectives said evidence established that over time, Lorincz became angry with Owens’ children for playing on a field near their home. On June 2, investigators said she argued with the children and a neighbor heard her yelling at them.
Detectives said Lorincz threw a skate at Owens’ 10-year-old son, which hit him in the toe.
The boy and his 12-year-old brother then tried to talk to Lorincz, at which point officers said he opened the door and handed them an umbrella.
Investigators said the children told their mother what had happened; at that point, Ajike Owens went to Lorincz’s door and knocked several times, demanding that he come out.
That’s when Lorincz fired a shot through his door, which struck Owens in the upper chest, according to detectives.
READ: Protesters call for arrest of woman accused of shooting, killing Marion County mother
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They added that at the time she was shot, Owens’ 10-year-old son was by her side.
Detectives said Lorincz claimed he acted in self-defense and that Owens had been trying to break down his door before firing the shot from inside the apartment.
READ: How Florida’s Stand Your Ground law plays into fatal shooting of Marion County mother
They said Lorincz also claimed Owens had previously assaulted him.
But a sheriff’s spokesman said that through their investigation, including witness statements that were submitted “as recently as yesterday,” detectives were able to establish that Lorincz’s actions “were not justifiable under Florida law “.
“I want to thank my detectives for working tirelessly to fully investigate this case. I also want to thank Ms. Owens’ family for their patience while we conducted the diligent investigation we were required by law to conduct,” he said. say Sheriff Billy Woods.
“Ma’am. Lorincz’s fate is now in the hands of the judicial system, which I trust will deliver justice in due time,” he added.
“As I go to bed tonight, I will say a prayer for Ms. Owens’ children and the rest of her family. I would ask all of you to do the same.”
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Attorneys Ben Crump and Anthony Thomas, who represent Owens’ family in the case, acknowledged the arrest made by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and released a statement on social media Tuesday afternoon.
“While we are relieved that the woman apparently responsible for the tragic killing of Ajike “AJ” Owens has been arrested, we are no less concerned that accountability has taken so long due to the existence of archaic laws like Stand Your Ground “, a part of Crump. statement read
He continued: “What does it say when a person can shoot and kill an unarmed mother in the presence of her young children, and not be immediately arrested, questioned and charged?”
Lorincz is expected to make his initial court appearance Wednesday morning in Marion County.
Channel 9 will have a crew at the court hearing.
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