Everything Susan Lorincz Said About Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens Before and After the Fatal Shooting That Shook an Entire Community
The story of Ajike “AJ” Owens still leaves a deep ache in the hearts of those who followed her case — a mother of four whose life was cut short in a confrontation that should never have happened. The tragedy unfolded on June 2, 2023, in Marion County, Florida, when AJ Owens was fatally shot through a closed door by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz. What began as a neighborhood dispute turned into a heartbreaking national story about fear, anger, and the devastating consequences of escalating tension.
Before the shooting, Susan Lorincz had called 911 multiple times to report Owens and her children. According to official reports, she described the family as “aggressive” and claimed she often felt “threatened” by them. Neighbors, however, painted a more complicated picture — one of ongoing disputes and hostility that seemed to grow over time. Owens, a dedicated single mother, was known for standing up for her children. When Lorincz reportedly threw a roller skate at one of them and used racial slurs, AJ decided to confront her — not with violence, but with words.
It was that moment of confrontation that turned fatal. According to police, Owens knocked on Lorincz’s door demanding that she come outside and talk about what happened. Lorincz, who never opened the door, fired a single shot through it, striking Owens. The 35-year-old mother was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Her four children, who were present during the incident, have since become the faces of a nationwide call for justice.
When police questioned Lorincz, her statements shifted several times. She initially said she feared for her life and believed Owens was trying to break into her home. But investigators found no evidence that Owens attempted to enter the house. Instead, witnesses described Owens as pleading for Lorincz to step outside so they could talk. In the days that followed, Lorincz allegedly told investigators she regretted firing the shot — yet she continued to insist she was “scared” and “didn’t mean for it to happen.”
The case took on broader attention when Netflix released its documentary The Perfect Neighbor, exploring not only the events of that night but also the words Lorincz used before and after the shooting. According to the documentary, Lorincz’s 911 calls and neighborly complaints showed a pattern of agitation and resentment toward Owens and her family. She often referred to them in frustrated tones, saying they were “loud” and “disrespectful.” But her language, as the series reveals, went beyond complaints — at times, it carried undertones of prejudice and fear that painted a deeply troubling portrait of how quickly bias can escalate into violence.
The film also gives voice to Owens’ family, particularly her mother, who has become an advocate for justice and awareness around neighborhood violence. “AJ wasn’t a threat,” she said in an interview. “She was a mother protecting her children. And she deserved to come home to them.” The Owens children have since been raised by relatives, surrounded by a community that has rallied behind them in grief and solidarity.
Lorincz was arrested days after the shooting and charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, and assault. In court appearances, she appeared emotional, often breaking down as the charges were read. Yet for many, the pain remains — a life lost, children left without their mother, and a reminder of how words, fears, and assumptions can collide with irreversible consequences.
As the legal proceedings continue, The Perfect Neighbor forces viewers to reflect not only on the details of the case but on the broader human story beneath it — two women whose lives were intertwined by fear, frustration, and tragedy. Owens’ loved ones continue to honor her memory by calling for compassion, accountability, and an end to senseless acts of violence.
In the end, what Susan Lorincz said — and did — will forever be etched in the record of what happened that day. But for those who knew AJ Owens, her story will not be defined by how she died, but by how fiercely she lived — as a mother, a protector, and a woman who refused to stay silent when it mattered most.
