Susan Lorincz, the Florida woman who fatally shot 35-year-old Ajike Owens through her front door, will not face murder charges.
On Monday (June 26), State Attorney William “Bill” Gladstone announced that Lorincz, 58, has been charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault in connection to the deadly shooting on June 2.
Despite pleas from the family of Ajike Owens to charge Susan Lorincz with murder, the prosecutor claimed there is “insufficient evidence” to proceed with charges of second-degree murder, which is a first-degree felony.
Gladson said in the statement:
I am aware of the desire of the family, and some community members, that the defendant be charged with second-degree murder.
My obligation as State Attorney is to follow the law in each case that I prosecute.
I did so in this case, and while some may not agree with that decision, I can assure you that the decision was thoughtful and made without consideration of any factors other than the specific facts of this terrible crime.
In order to charge Susan Lorincz with second-degree murder, Gladson said prosecutors would have to prove “the existence of a depraved mind toward the victim at the time of the killing.”
Depraved mind requires evidence of hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent toward the victim at the time of the killing.
As deplorable as the defendant’s actions were in this case, there is insufficient evidence to prove this specific and required element of second-degree murder.
Ajike Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, reacted to the news of the charges by saying:
How do I explain to AJ’s children, my young grandbabies, that the loss of their mother’s life is still not being taken seriously?
Only a living, breathing AJ would be true justice, and today’s charge could not be further from that.”
If convicted on all of her current charges, Susan Lorincz faces up to 30 years in prison.
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Source: Fox35 Orlando
