Fatal Shooting of Black Neighbor by White Woman Reignites Stand Your Ground Debate

A white woman from Florida was arrested Tuesday for the fatal shooting of her Black neighbor. Susan Lorincz faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault. The arrest came in response to mounting pressure from the public.

The shooting has brought Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law into the spotlight again. Lorincz claims self-defense, stating that her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, had attempted to break down her door and had a history of previous attacks. However, detectives concluded Lorincz’s actions were not justified under Florida law.

This image taken from video provided by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office shows Susan Lorincz, center, after her arrest in Ocala, Fla., Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Lorincz is accused of fatally shooting her neighbor, Ajike Owens, a Black mother of four. (Marion County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

The shooting took place Friday night when Owens went to confront Lorincz for throwing a skate at her child. According to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Owens family, Lorincz had directed racial slurs at the children before the confrontation, and when Owens knocked on the door to talk to her about the incident Lorincz fired shots through her metal door, resulting in the tragic death of Owens, a 35-year-old Black mother of four.

Click to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.