ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A white Florida lady accused of taking pictures and killing her Black neighbor informed investigators she had been threatened by the sufferer within the months earlier than the slaying, in accordance an arrest report launched Thursday.
The report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace got here out as Susan Louise Lorincz made her preliminary look in courtroom Thursday. She appeared by way of video hookup carrying a darkish protecting vest. It was not instantly clear if she had a lawyer to symbolize her.
In an announcement to investigators after the taking pictures of Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old Black mom of 4, Lorincz was quoted as saying she had issues for 2 years with kids within the neighborhood not respecting her — together with the sufferer’s kids, who vary in age from 3 to 12 years outdated.
“Lorincz suggested that the youngsters of (Owens) have informed her up to now they might kill her,” the report says.
The day of the taking pictures, Lorincz informed investigators she had a headache and that “neighbors have been exterior screaming and yelling, youngsters have been operating round” in a grassy space separating two house quadruplex buildings, together with hers. She mentioned Owens angrily confronted her and threatened to kill her.
Lorincz claimed “that Owens banged on the door so arduous every part began shaking and she or he thought the door was going to return off,” and that she panicked and mentioned to herself “’Oh my god she’s actually going to kill me this time.’” That is when she fired a single spherical from her .380-caliber handgun, the report says, noting that Lorincz additionally had a second handgun within the house.
“Lorincz suggested that she bought the firearm for defense after an altercation with the sufferer,” it says.
Lorincz, 58 is charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault within the Owens killing, Sheriff Billy Woods said in a statement. Authorities got here beneath strain Tuesday to arrest and charge Lorincz, who fired the gun and killed Owens in a case that has put Florida’s divisive stand your floor legislation again into the highlight.
Throughout a information convention Wednesday afternoon, the sufferer’s household, mates and neighborhood leaders joined civil rights attorney Ben Crump in thanking the sheriff for making the arrest, whereas calling for justice for Owens.
“This isn’t a tough case,” Crump mentioned. He referred to as on the state legal professional’s workplace to “zealously prosecute” the shooter.
Crump, together with Owens’s mom and a number of neighbors famous through the information convention that the “feud” the sheriff spoke of was between Lorincz and neighborhood kids, who usually performed in loads exterior her house. Neighbors mentioned Lorincz steadily referred to as the youngsters vile names and antagonized them.
One baby informed deputies that the evening of the taking pictures, Lorincz “got here out of her home and gave the youngsters the center finger” and in addition mentioned this: “Get away from my home, you Black slave,” in keeping with the report.
Woods mentioned the investigation, which included eyewitness statements, established that Lorincz’s actions weren’t justifiable as self-defense beneath Florida legislation. Her arrest was delayed a number of days whereas authorities regarded right into a potential “stand your floor” declare.
The sheriff has mentioned that since January 2021, deputies responded to not less than a half-dozen calls in reference to what police described as feuding between Owens and Lorincz.
Owens’ mom, Pamela Dias, has mentioned she’s going to now increase her 4 younger grandchildren.
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Related Press author Freida Frisaro contributed from Fort Lauderdale.