The State Attorney’s Office has decided not to enhance the involuntary manslaughter with a firearm charge against Susan Louise Lorincz by the fatal shooting by Ajike “AJ” Shantrell Owens.
Prosecutors realize the decision will not be popular. Many people in the community have called for an upgrade to second degree murder.
State’s Attorney Bill Gladson said: “While some may disagree with this decision, I can assure you that the decision was thoughtful and was made without consideration of any other factors other than the specific facts of this terrible crime. Simply put, my obligation is to follow the Law.”
Gladson continued: “To prove the crime of second-degree murder, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of a depraved mind toward the victim at the time of the ‘murder
“Depraved mind requires proof of hatred, malice, ill will or malice toward the victim at the time of the murder. However deplorable the defendant’s actions in this case were, there is insufficient evidence to prove that specific and required element of second-degree murder,” he said.
Ajike “AJ” Shantrell Owens
Lorincz also faces an assault charge. If convicted of both charges, she could be sentenced to 30 years in prison.
angry calls
The 5th Judicial Circuit State’s Attorney’s Office covers Marion, Sumter, Lake, Citrus and Hernando counties. He has been inundated with phone calls from people upset that Lorincz, 58, was being held on only one charge of involuntary manslaughter. They have demanded that prosecutors charge Lorincz with second-degree murder.
Tempers have flared. Friday, law enforcement officials in Alachua County arrested Regina A. Pines of Gainesville on a corruption charge of threatening a public servant and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Pines, 31, is accused of calling the Ocala state attorney’s office and threatening to shoot Gladson.
Pines made his first appearance before a judge on Saturday. She was released from jail the same day after posting $2,000 bail, court records show. Pines’ next court date is in July.
The story continues
Update charge?
Community members were upset that law enforcement officers did not immediately arrest Lorincz on June 2, the night of the shooting.
Officials with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Lorincz could not be arrested at the time of the shooting because, by law, they must first prove that her actions were not justified under Florida’s stand your ground doctrine.
State Attorney Bill Gladson
After detectives concluded their initial investigation, Lorincz was arrested on the manslaughter charge on June 6.
Community members and civil rights leaders felt it happened long before Lorincz’s arrest and the charges were not serious enough. There have been protests, rallies, prayer vigils and calls for the SAO to increase the charge against Lorincz.
Protesters even marched on Gladson’s office to demand answers. Gladson came out and spoke to the protesters.
At Owens’ funeral, which was attended by approximately 1,000 people on June 12, the Reverend Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and Ocala native Anthony D. Edwards, another attorney, are representing the Owens family.
alleged threat: Woman upset over AJ Owens case accused of threatening to shoot Ocala state’s attorney
Lorincz’s next court hearing is his arraignment, scheduled for July. At that time, Lorincz’s position will be officially announced. As of Monday, Lorincz remained locked up in the county jail with bail set at $154,000.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Robert Hodges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rich Buxman and Adam Smith will be prosecuting.
The death of Owens
Owens, a single mother of three sons and a daughter, ages 3 to 12, he was killed in his Ocala neighborhood of Quail Run, located on County Road 475A by his neighbor, Lorincz.
Lorincz, who is white, is accused of yelling at Owens’ children, using racial slurs and throwing skates at them. They told his mother. Owens, who was black, went to confront her neighbor at her home. Lorincz fired a handgun through the locked front door, hitting Owens in the chest. His children witnessed the shooting. Owens later died at a local hospital. She was 35 years old.
Lorincz told detectives the shooting was in self-defense.
This is a developing story. It will be updated with more community reactions throughout the day
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared in the Ocala Star-Banner: State will not upgrade manslaughter charge in AJ Owens case; here is why
