Florida state attorney William Gladson has decided not to pursue murder charges against Susan Lorincz, a white woman accused of fatally shooting her black neighbour, Ajike Owens, through a door.
Gladson cited insufficient evidence to support a murder charge against Lorincz. The authorities charged Lorincz with manslaughter with a firearm and assault as a result. If convicted, Lorincz could face a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.
Anthony Thomas, an attorney representing Owens’ family, formally requested to upgrade the manslaughter charge to second-degree murder after the bond hearing.
Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, expressed her profound grief and frustration, struggling to explain the charges to her grandchildren. She believed justice would only be served if Ajike were alive and called for more accountability in the case.
Sheriff Billy Woods stated that the shooting incident followed a two-and-a-half-year feud between the neighbours. Reportedly, Owens’ children playing near her apartment had upset Lorincz. Detectives confirmed that Lorincz had used racial slurs, including the n-word, towards the victim’s children. This case has sparked widespread debate and brought attention to the complex and contentious issues surrounding racial tensions in the country’s criminal justice system.
CC: Independent
