After death of AJ Owens, alleged killer charged with manslaughter, not murder

Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner
·2 min read
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OCALA, Fla. -- A Florida prosecutor decided a woman accused of fatally shooting her neighbor after a long-running neighborhood feud will face a manslaughter charge, not a second-degree murder charge.

Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, was arrested and charged with manslaughter with a firearm earlier in June after she allegedly shot Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens, 35, through a closed front door in their Ocala neighborhood. Owens' death sparked protests from community members and civil rights leaders who felt Lorincz's arrest took too long and the charges, which she still faces, weren't sufficiently severe.

Owens' family and others in the community called for an upgrade to second-degree murder. State Attorney Bill Gladson said in order to prosecute Lorincz for that crime, the state would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt "the existence of a depraved mind toward the victim at the time of the killing."

"Depraved mind requires evidence of hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent toward the victim at the time of the killing," Gladson said. "As deplorable as the defendant’s actions were in this case, there is insufficient evidence to prove this specific and required element of second-degree murder."

Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens
Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens

Owens' family, attorney 'disappointed' by decision

Anthony D. Thomas, who is representing Owens' family alongside civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, said the family is concerned that if Lorincz is released early, it would be a slap in the face for Owens' children.

"We're disappointed," Thomas said. But, he said Owens' family is "hopeful that there will be a conviction."

Lorincz is being represented by public defenders. Michael Graves, head of the public defender's office, told the Ocala Star-Banner, part of the USA TODAY Network, his office had no comment on Gladson's decision.

State attorney faces threats, protests over charging decision

State Attorney Bill Gladson addresses a crowd of protestors who came to ask questions about the investigation into the shooting death of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens prior to Susan Lorincz's arrest. Owens was shot while standing outside her neighbor's door June 2 in Ocala.
State Attorney Bill Gladson addresses a crowd of protestors who came to ask questions about the investigation into the shooting death of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens prior to Susan Lorincz's arrest. Owens was shot while standing outside her neighbor's door June 2 in Ocala.

Gladson said his office also chose not to file three other charges that Lorincz could have faced: misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor culpable negligence and misdemeanor battery.

Dozens of people protested in front of the Marion County Judicial Center on Monday. The state attorney's office has been flooded with calls from people upset that Lorincz was being held on only a manslaughter charge.

Regina A. Pines is accused of calling the Ocala state attorney's office and threatening to shoot Gladson if he didn't upgrade the criminal charge against Lorincz. Pines, 31, was arrested Friday on a charge of corruption by threat against a public servant and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Lorincz faces 30 years in prison

Lorincz also faces one count of assault, a second-degree misdemeanor, for allegedly threatening one of Owens' children. If convicted of both charges, Lorincz could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

Lorincz's arraignment is scheduled for July. As of Monday, Lorincz remained in the county jail with bail set at $154,000.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: In AJ Owens killing, charges won't shift from manslaughter to murder