Netflix’s latest true crime documentary The Perfect Neighbor revisits one of Florida’s most controversial neighborhood dispute cases that ended in tragedy. On June 2, 2023, 35-year-old Ajike “AJ” Owens, a Black mother of four, was fatally shot through a locked door by her white neighbor, 58-year-old Susan Lorincz, in Ocala, Florida.
The case reignited national debate over Florida’s “stand your ground” law, racial justice, and gun violence, ultimately resulting in Lorincz’s conviction for manslaughter and a 25-year prison sentence handed down on November 25, 2024.
Who Killed Ajike Tragic Event: Timeline of June 2, 2023
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| ~9:00 PM | Lorincz argues with Owens’ children, throws roller skate at 10-year-old |
| Shortly After | Children tell their mother; Owens goes to Lorincz’s door |
| ~9:01 PM | Lorincz fires single shot through locked door, striking Owens |
| After 10:00 PM | Owens pronounced dead at hospital |
| June 7, 2023 | Lorincz arrested after 5-day investigation |
What Led to the Fatal Shooting
Tensions had been building for months over children playing in a grassy field near Lorincz’s home. The documentary, available on Netflix, uses extensive police body-camera footage, 911 recordings, and detective interviews to chronicle the escalating conflict.
On the fatal evening, Lorincz got into an argument with Owens’ children, yelling at them and throwing a roller skate that hit Owens’ 10-year-old son in the toe. When the children went to speak with Lorincz, she swung an umbrella at them.
After hearing what happened, Owens—who was unarmed—went to Lorincz’s home to address the situation. While Owens knocked on the door with her 10-year-old son standing beside her, Lorincz fired a single shot from a .380-caliber handgun through the locked door, striking Owens in the chest.
The Investigation and Arrest
Deputies waited several days before arresting Lorincz, reviewing Florida’s self-defense statutes and gathering statements, which drew public anger. Approximately 30 protesters gathered outside the Marion County Judicial Center demanding action.
Lorincz was arrested on June 7, 2023, and charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault.
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The Trial and Conviction
During the August 2024 trial, attorneys for Lorincz claimed she fired in self-defense, alleging she feared for her life when Owens approached her home. However, prosecutors presented compelling evidence that contradicted this claim.
Judge Robert Hodges noted that Lorincz had called 911 and knew law enforcement was on the way, that she could have stayed in a bedroom where she kept her firearms, and that Owens showed no effort to enter the residence. The judge stated: “The shooting was based, I find, more in anger than in fear”.
On August 16, 2024, a jury consisting solely of white jurors found Lorincz guilty of manslaughter with a firearm.
The Sentencing
On November 25, 2024, Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The sentencing judge cited the “indiscriminate nature” of her actions and the trauma inflicted on Owens’s children, who witnessed the aftermath of their mother’s killing.
During the hearing, Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, delivered a powerful statement: “I stand before you not only mourning the loss of my daughter, but also the loss of our hopes, dreams and the future that we often spoke of”.
As of 2025, Lorincz is serving her sentence at the Homestead Correctional Institution in Homestead, Florida.
The Stand Your Ground Controversy
The killing of Ajike Owens and the subsequent trial intensified national debate over Florida’s stand-your-ground statute and its broader social implications. Civil rights advocates and Owens’s family called for legislative reform, arguing the statute enables misinterpretation and promotes a “shoot first, think later” culture.
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FAQs
Q: What is Florida’s “stand your ground” law and why was it controversial in this case?
A: Florida’s “stand your ground” law allows individuals to use force in self-defense scenarios if they reasonably believe such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. In this case, the law was controversial because Lorincz shot through a locked door while police were already en route, and Owens showed no signs of attempting to break in. Critics argue the law is often misapplied, particularly in cases involving racial dynamics, and can enable unnecessary violence rather than genuine self-defense.
Q: Why wasn’t Susan Lorincz charged with murder instead of manslaughter?
A: State Attorney Bill Gladson stated that his office carefully examined the viability of both second-degree murder and manslaughter with a firearm, both first-degree felonies, before making the filing decision. The delay in arrest and the manslaughter charge rather than murder drew significant public scrutiny and criticism. Prosecutors ultimately determined manslaughter was the appropriate charge based on the evidence, though many advocates believed murder charges were warranted. The case highlights ongoing debates about how prosecutors handle similar cases involving claims of self-defense.
