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Jury finds Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter in death of AJ Owens

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BREAKING NEWS. LAWRENCE, YOU’RE GOING TO BE HELD IN CUSTODY OF THE MARION COUNTY JAIL WITHOUT BOND UNTIL THAT TIME. OKAY. WITH A NOD OF THE HEAD, SUSAN LAWRENCE WAS TAKEN TO THE MARION COUNTY JAIL. THE JURY, FINDING HER GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER AFTER ALMOST THREE HOURS OF DELIBERATING. THE FAMILY OF A.J. OWENS BREAKING DOWN IN TEARS OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM. LAWRENCE KILLED OWENS LAST YEAR. SHE SHOT THE MOTHER THROUGH HER LOCKED FRONT DOOR IN FRONT OF HER CHILDREN. WESH 2’S SENAIT GEBREGIORGIS WAS IN THE COURTROOM AS THAT VERDICT WAS READ. AND TONIGHT, THIS WAS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER FOR OWENS FAMILY. AS AJ’S MOTHER PUT IT. IT’S BEEN A LONG YEAR, ONE THAT WAS THAT’S BEEN PAINFUL AND FILLED WITH GRIEF. AND AT FIRST THE FAMILY STRUGGLED WITH ATTORNEYS AGREEING TO LEAVE THE TOPIC OF RACE OUT OF THIS TRIAL. SINCE THERE WAS A HISTORY OF BAD BLOOD BETWEEN LORENZ AND AJ THAT INCLUDED THE USE OF RACIAL SLURS. BUT PROSECUTORS SAID IT WAS BEST TO LEAVE RACE OUT TO AVOID THE POTENTIAL OF AN APPEAL IN THE FUTURE. AND THEY ARGUE THAT THEY ALREADY HAD ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT LORENZ INTENTIONALLY SHOT AND KILLED AJ WITH NEGLIGENCE AND WITH NO REGARD FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES. WE, THE JURY FIND, AS AS TO COUNT ONE OF THE CHARGE. THE DEFENDANT IS GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER. THE VERDICT COMING WITH TEARS OF RELIEF IN THE COURTROOM. THANK YOU. JESUS. AJ OWENS IS EMOTIONAL. MOTHER. PAMELA DIAZ LEAVING WITH LOVED ONES, EMBRACING HER. THEY HAVE NEVER LEFT HER SIDE SINCE HER DAUGHTER WAS SHOT AND KILLED. MY HEART IS A LITTLE LIGHTER AND WE’RE NOW ON THE PATH OF TRUE HEALING. SIX JURORS WERE SEATED ON MONDAY, THREE DAYS OF WITNESS TESTIMONY FOLLOWED CLOSING ARGUMENTS ON FRIDAY MORNING. WAS IT REASONABLE TO SHOOT THROUGH A CLOSED, LOCKED, DEADBOLTED METAL DOOR? SHE WAS IN HER HOME WHERE SHE LIVED ALONE. THE DEFENSE POINTING TO PERCEPTION AND SELF-DEFENSE, SAYING THAT LORENZ WAS REASONABLY FEARFUL WHEN OWENS POUNDED ON HER FRONT DOOR. MISS OWENS WAS ANGRY, AND IF SHE GOT THROUGH THAT DOOR AND SUSAN LAWRENCE THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BECAUSE SHE SAW IT MOVING IN, AND SHE HEARD THAT CRACK. PROSECUTORS TELLING THE JURY THAT OWENS GOAL WAS NOT TO GET IN THE HOUSE, BUT TO GET LORENZ TO COME OUT. SHE WAS ASKED WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME OUT OF MISS OWENS MOUTH, AND THE DEFENDANT SAID, MISS OWENS FIRST SAID, I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING TO MY SONS. I DON’T LIKE THE WAY YOU’RE TALKING TO MY SONS. LORENZ AND OWENS HAD A HISTORY OF CONFLICT. THE DEFENSE SAYING THE NIGHT IN JUNE ESCALATED THE LAWS IN FLORIDA. GIVE CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES WHEN THEY ARE FACED WITH IMMINENT DANGER. PROSECUTORS ARGUING THE SHOOTING STEMMED FROM PENT UP ANGER. SHE TOLD THE 911 OPERATOR THAT SHE WAS SICK OF THE CHILDREN. HER WORDS WERE, THEY ARE BOTHERING ME. THEY WON’T EFFING STOP. ALTHOUGH MY DAUGHTER IS GONE FOREVER. THE CHILDREN’S MOM IS GONE FOREVER. BUT WE’VE ACHIEVED SOME JUSTICE FOR ASHOKA. AND AGAIN, THAT JURY HAD SIX PEOPLE. TWO MEN AND FOUR WOMEN. ALL OF THEM WHITE. THE JUDGE IS NOW WORKING ON SCHEDULING A SENTENCING HEARING. LORENZ COULD GET UP TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

Jury finds Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter in death of AJ Owens

A Marion County woman who admitted to killing her neighbor was convicted of manslaughter on Friday in the shooting death of A.J. Owens. A jury of six people found Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter after a short deliberation. Lorincz shot Ajike “AJ” Owens after a confrontation about Owens’ kids playing in Lorincz’s yard. During the woman’s trial, which started on Tuesday, prosecutors argued that Owens was unarmed and did not threaten Lorincz when she shot through her locked front door. The defense says Lorincz feared for her life.All week, witnesses have been called by both sides. The state rested its case on Wednesday and the defense did the same on Thursday. Lorincz decided she would not take the stand in her own defense.Susan Lorincz trial coverage: Day 1: Witnesses recall lingering issues between Susan Lorincz, victim in manslaughter trialDay 2: Front door with bullet hole brought into courtroomDay 3: Defense calls forensic analysts; closing arguments expected FridayClosing arguments were complete by 11:10 a.m. on Friday. On Thursday night, AJ Owens’ family released a statement saying they hope the jury’s verdict reflects the gravity of what has been taken and that they can find peace.”We are united in our grief, but we are also united in our hope for a better tomorrow,” the statement says.About the case:In June 2023, Marion County deputies were called to a home after a mother, later identified as Owens, was shot and killed. Her neighbor, Lorincz, admitted to the shooting and was arrested a few days later.According to officials, the shooting stemmed from an argument over Owens’ kids, which was not atypical, deputies said. Officials say they had responded to the area six to eight times before.RELATED: Leaving race out of Susan Lorincz’s trial may help AJ Owens, legal expert saysThe Marion County Sheriff’s Office said there was a confrontation between Lorincz and the children, which then prompted Owens to go to Lorincz’s door. That’s when the fatal shooting occurred.The sheriff’s office arrested Lorincz and booked her into jail on manslaughter charges less than a week after the incident. The Owens family tried to push for a murder charge, but that did not end up happening.Through it all, Lorincz has said Owens threatened her and violently knocked on her door, which caused her to fire out of fear for her life.RELATED: Ocala woman who shot neighbor through door, killing her, pleads not guiltyRELATED: Documents reveal statements made by Susan Lorincz after deadly shooting of AJ Owens

A Marion County woman who admitted to killing her neighbor was convicted of manslaughter on Friday in the shooting death of A.J. Owens.

A jury of six people found Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter after a short deliberation.

Lorincz shot Ajike “AJ” Owens after a confrontation about Owens’ kids playing in Lorincz’s yard.

During the woman’s trial, which started on Tuesday, prosecutors argued that Owens was unarmed and did not threaten Lorincz when she shot through her locked front door. The defense says Lorincz feared for her life.

All week, witnesses have been called by both sides. The state rested its case on Wednesday and the defense did the same on Thursday. Lorincz decided she would not take the stand in her own defense.

Susan Lorincz trial coverage:

Closing arguments were complete by 11:10 a.m. on Friday.

On Thursday night, AJ Owens’ family released a statement saying they hope the jury’s verdict reflects the gravity of what has been taken and that they can find peace.

“We are united in our grief, but we are also united in our hope for a better tomorrow,” the statement says.

About the case:

In June 2023, Marion County deputies were called to a home after a mother, later identified as Owens, was shot and killed. Her neighbor, Lorincz, admitted to the shooting and was arrested a few days later.

According to officials, the shooting stemmed from an argument over Owens’ kids, which was not atypical, deputies said. Officials say they had responded to the area six to eight times before.

RELATED: Leaving race out of Susan Lorincz’s trial may help AJ Owens, legal expert says

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said there was a confrontation between Lorincz and the children, which then prompted Owens to go to Lorincz’s door. That’s when the fatal shooting occurred.

The sheriff’s office arrested Lorincz and booked her into jail on manslaughter charges less than a week after the incident. The Owens family tried to push for a murder charge, but that did not end up happening.

Through it all, Lorincz has said Owens threatened her and violently knocked on her door, which caused her to fire out of fear for her life.

RELATED: Ocala woman who shot neighbor through door, killing her, pleads not guilty

RELATED: Documents reveal statements made by Susan Lorincz after deadly shooting of AJ Owens

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