Where Is Susan Lorincz Now? Inside Her Life Two Years After Shooting Her Neighbor

Susan Lorincz’s name first made national headlines in June 2023, when she shot and killed her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, through her locked front door in Ocala, Florida. The incident, which involved a long-standing feud over neighborhood children playing near their apartments, sparked outrage and reignited national debates over Florida’s “stand your ground” laws. Two years later, Lorincz is serving a lengthy prison sentence, and the case continues to be revisited in popular media, including Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor, which premiered in October 2025.

A History of Neighborhood Tensions

Lorincz, a White woman in her late 50s at the time of the shooting, had a documented history of conflicts with children in her Ocala neighborhood. Residents reported that she frequently harassed local children, including Owens’ four kids, often using racial slurs, recording them while they played, and waving weapons in what neighbors described as intimidation. According to authorities, between January 2021 and June 2023, law enforcement responded to at least six calls related to disputes between Lorincz and Owens’ family.

Neighbors described Lorincz as combative and quick to anger. “Everybody in this neighborhood has feuded with this lady over our children,” local resident Phyllis Wills told NBC News. While her disputes with other children were troubling, her interactions with Owens and her family were particularly contentious, creating a tense environment that would ultimately culminate in tragedy.

The Shooting Incident

On the evening of June 2, 2023, Owens’ children were playing in a field near Lorincz’s apartment when Lorincz reportedly became involved. Authorities say she threw a roller skate at Owens’ 10-year-old son, striking him in the toe. She also allegedly shouted at the children and waved an umbrella at them. Later, when Owens confronted Lorincz about the incident and knocked on her door with her son present, Lorincz fired a single shot through the locked door, killing Owens instantly.

Lorincz claimed she feared for her life and acted in self-defense, invoking Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which allows individuals to use deadly force if they believe their lives are threatened. However, investigators concluded that her actions were not justified, as Owens was unarmed, Lorincz was behind a locked door, and law enforcement was en route to the scene.

Charges and Arrest

Following the shooting, Lorincz was initially not arrested due to the “stand your ground” evaluation. After reviewing interviews with witnesses, Owens’ children, and Lorincz herself, authorities charged her on June 7, 2023, with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault. She was not charged with second-degree murder, as the State Attorney cited insufficient evidence to meet the legal elements of that charge.

During the investigation, Lorincz admitted to using racial slurs toward children in the past, further complicating her defense and highlighting the hostile environment in which the shooting occurred.

Trial and Conviction

Lorincz’s trial began in August 2024. Her attorneys argued that she acted in self-defense, claiming Owens had been pounding on her door and threatening her. The prosecution countered that Owens was unarmed, Lorincz was safely behind a locked door, and deadly force was not necessary.

After just two hours of jury deliberation, Lorincz was found guilty of manslaughter. The conviction carried a potential sentence of up to 30 years. In November 2024, the court sentenced her to 25 years in prison. During the sentencing hearing, Lorincz’s defense presented evidence of her traumatic childhood and history of mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from sexual abuse. The judge, however, ruled that these factors did not mitigate the severity of her actions, describing the shooting as “completely unnecessary.”

“I find that the shooting was completely unnecessary,” Judge Robert Hodges said. “In this case, Ms. Lorincz was behind the door. The door was locked. She had already called law enforcement. She knew they were en route. She was in a relatively safe position.”

Lorincz addressed the court for the first time during her sentencing, expressing remorse: “I am so sorry I took AJ’s life. I never intended to kill her.” Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, however, questioned the sincerity of the apology, saying Lorincz “never showed remorse.”

Life Behind Bars

Currently, Susan Lorincz is serving her 25-year sentence at the Homestead Correctional Institution in South Florida. Her projected release date is April 8, 2048, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

In September 2025, Lorincz spoke publicly for the first time since her incarceration in an interview with local ABC affiliate WCJB. She maintained that she had felt threatened by Owens and her children on the night of the shooting. “I was terrified,” she said. Asked whether she was capable of manslaughter, Lorincz replied, “No. It just makes me sick.” She continued, “I just never, ever thought in a million years this would happen, and it just, it breaks my heart. I can’t take it back. I can’t replace her.”

The interview underscored the ongoing controversy surrounding the case and Florida’s self-defense laws. Lorincz’s statements reignited debates over the balance between lawful self-protection and the use of deadly force in disputes that might otherwise be resolved without violence.

Cultural Impact

The Lorincz case has remained in the public eye, not only due to the tragic circumstances of Owens’ death but also because of its broader social implications. The case highlights longstanding issues with neighborhood disputes, racial dynamics, and the interpretation of self-defense laws. Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor has brought the story to a wider audience, presenting police bodycam footage and interviews to provide a detailed account of the events leading up to the shooting.

Two years after the shooting, Lorincz’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of escalating conflicts and the devastating impact gun violence can have on families and communities. Owens’ children, now without their mother, continue to navigate the emotional fallout from the incident, while Lorincz serves a sentence that reflects the gravity of her actions.

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