'Very, very disappointed': Owens family representatives voice displeasure with prosecutor

On Tuesday, one day after State Attorney Bill Gladson announced he wasn't going to file a second-degree murder charge against Susan Lorincz, the woman charged in the shooting death of her neighbor Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens, representatives from the victim's family held a virtual press conference to air their complaints about the filing decision.

Host and moderator Valerie Morgan introduced several people present at the event Tuesday morning. Owens family members were not there.

Serving as liaison for the family, Takema Robinson said the family is "very, very disappointed" with the state's filing decision. She said they believe there was enough evidence given to the state attorney's office to justify charging Lorincz with second-degree murder, not just manslaughter.

Robinson said explaining the situation to Owens' four children is difficult. She said the children, three boys and a girl, ages 3 to 12, are going through the first stage of trauma. She said the family has relocated to "a secure safe space," but declined to say where.

"Their safety is a concern for us," Robinson said.

One of the lawyers representing the family, Ocala native Anthony D. Thomas, said they're "staying vigilant" and are disappointed with the state attorney's decision. He said the family and its supporters are hoping for a conviction and for Lorincz to receive the maximum 30-year prison sentence.

Gladson's press release and questions raised

On Monday, Gladson said in a press release that the office had filed a charge of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault. Originally, Lorincz, 58, had been held on charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, two counts of assault, and battery.

In the release, Gladson explained that the facts of the case did not support a second-degree murder charge. He also explained the legal reasoning behind his decision to file only one assault charge, which concerns Lorincz reportedly threatening one of Owens' children.

During Tuesday's press conference, reporters asked if the Owens family was exploring other legal options. Thomas said new evidence must be presented to the state attorney's office, and then family representatives would have to seek a hearing in court.

Thomas strongly believes there is evidence to prove that Lorincz had "ill will" toward Owens at the time of the shooting − one of the key legal requirements to justify a second-degree murder charge.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy at Owens' funeral on June 12, wants the Department of Justice to step in and consider prosecuting the case as a federal hate crime.

Background of the case

It's alleged that Lorincz, who's white, had directed racial slurs at Owens' children. Neighbors said Lorincz did not like the children playing in the grassy field near her home and would often chase them away.

Owens, who was Black, and Lorincz lived in the Quail Run community, located off County Road 475A in Ocala. Lorincz did not own the property in question.

Owens, 35, went to Lorincz's residence on June 2 after her children told her that Lorincz had mistreated them and thrown a skate at one of them. Owens was standing outside Lorincz's closed front door when Lorincz, who was inside behind the door, fired a fatal shot through the door.

Lorincz is being held at the county jail with bail set at $154,000.

Protesters gathered in front of the Marion County Judicial Center on Monday, hours after Gladson announced his filing decision, to voice their displeasure.

More from Tuesday's press conference

Thomas' co-counsel, Benjamin Crump, joined the virtual press conference on Tuesday and said there's a double standard at work: If the roles had been reversed, Owens would have been arrested the night of the shooting, not four days later, as Lorincz was.

He said Lorincz should be charged with second-degree murder for shooting Owens through a locked, metal door.

Thomas said he believes the meetings he had with the state attorney's office before the filing decisions were announced were an exercise in damage control and gave the Owens family a false sense of hope.

Panel members spelled out what they view as a series of disappointments: The Marion County Sheriff's Office waiting four days to arrest Lorincz, then Gladson not filing the appropriate charge.

They believe neither Gladson nor Sheriff Billy Woods is standing with the family. A few days after the shooting, Woods said in a press conference that he could not immediately arrest Lorincz because, by law, detectives had to prove her claim of "stand your ground" did not apply.

Earlier coverage: State won't upgrade manslaughter charge in Owens shooting; victim's family disappointed

Robinson said they want the community and the nation to know that they're not in agreement with the situation, but it's not going to deter them from moving forward with justice.

"It's not the end of our work," she said.

Crump said the lives of Black women matter and the nation is watching Ocala.

"We want to see equal justice in Ocala," he said.

Robinson echoed those sentiments, adding "we want equality," and for people to remember Owens' four children.

Reaction from state Democrats

Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie said: "Our office has made its statement and explained the filing decision on this case." Forgie said his office has been "transparent," and its "sole purpose moving forward will be the prosecution of this case."

The Florida Democratic Party has released a statement pertaining to the filing decision from Gladson. "This is a sad day for the family and friends of AJ Owens, and for all the people of Florida. Susan Lorincz gunned down a mother in front of her children, and no legal recourse can truly make that right," FDP Chair Nikki Fried wrote.

Fried continued, “That being said, this is another example of why we need to reform Florida’s Stand Your Ground laws — until we do, innocent people will continue to die at the hands of those emboldened by their existence. It’s clear to most observers that it takes ‘hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent’ to shoot your neighbor through a doorway, but these outdated statutes make it nearly impossible to pursue murder charges."

She concluded with, “We continue to mourn with AJ’s family, and will be closely monitoring Ms. Lorincz’s future court proceedings.”

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

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Owens family reps blast prosecutor's office; will feds step in?