MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The state on Wednesday rested its case in the manslaughter trial of a woman who shot and killed her neighbor through a locked door in Marion County.
The jury will determine whether 60-year-old Susan Lorincz was justified when she shot through her locked front door on June 2, 2023, and killed Ajike “A.J.” Owens during an ongoing dispute over neighborhood children. The shooting happened after Owens confronted Lorincz, who had allegedly yelled at two of Owens’ children and threw a roller skate.
Opening statements happened Tuesday and evidence was introduced to the jury, including a gun prosecutors say was used to kill Owens and what was found in and around Owens’ neighbor’s home.
Jurors saw measurements from inside Lorincz’s home. Prosecutors say it proves she was not in her kitchen when she pulled the trigger.
Lorincz’s 911 call was also played. Her defense attorneys say she was in fear for her life when she fired her gun. The state pointed to later statements Lorincz made during questioning after the shooting.
“Was your goal to shoot and kill her?” a detective asked.
“No,” she replied.
“What was your goal?”
“To shoot and hopefully, you know, she’ll hear the shot and dissipate,” she said.
The state was expected to rest its case as early as Wednesday. Owens’ children were initially expected to testify, including one of the victim’s sons, who was standing next to her when she died.
However, the state chose not to ask her children to take the stand.
Instead, one witness went before the court on Wednesday, saying she lives about a football-field’s length from Lorincz. That witness provided additional details from the night of the shooting about what she heard.
News 6 also reached out to a representative for one of the family’s to ask whether they thought the trial would go to jury on Thursday. The representative responded that it’s possible, and that they expect a verdict by Friday.
This story is currently being updated to reflect the latest information.
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