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Ajike Owens‘ heartbreaking story comes to light tonight. Her family opens up for the first time about the tragedy that shattered their lives in an exclusive ABC 20/20 special. A 35-year-old mother of four gunned down by her neighbor, with her 9-year-old son standing beside her.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Victim: Ajike Owens, 35, mother of four from Ocala, Florida, shot June 2, 2023
- Shooter: Susan Lorincz, 58, neighbor convicted of manslaughter in August 2024
- Special Tonight: ABC 20/20 “The Neighbor From Hell” airs at 9 PM ET on ABC
- Family Speaks: Co-anchor Deborah Roberts sits with Owens’ mother and surviving children for exclusive interviews
The Deadly Neighbor Dispute That Changed Everything
A neighborhood conflict over children playing in a field escalated into tragedy. Susan Lorincz had repeatedly called police to complain about Owens’ children and other kids in the shared outdoor space near her Ocala home. The dispute dated back to February 2022, more than a year before the fatal shooting.
Neighbors and investigators described Lorincz as the only resident who continuously complained about the children. According to body camera footage, police noted that the picture was painted that Susan was a problem in the community. Despite Lorincz’s frequent calls, no other families reported issues with the children playing outside.
Ajike Owens’ family opens up about tragedy in ABC 20/20 special tonight
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The Night Everything Changed Forever
On June 2, 2023, around 9 PM, the dispute turned deadly. Ajike Owens knocked on Lorincz’s door to confront her after her son said Lorincz yelled and threw roller skates at him. Owens was standing outside the locked front door when Lorincz fired a single shot through the wood, striking her in the chest.
Israel, Owens’ 9-year-old son, stood directly beside his mother during the shooting. Neighbor Lauren Smith recalled the horrific moment, telling 20/20 that Isaac, the oldest son, came screaming and led her to his mother’s body in the field. Owens’ youngest children were 6 and 2 years old at the time.
Conviction and the Fight for Justice
Susan Lorincz was arrested on June 6, 2023, and charged with manslaughter with a firearm. She claimed self-defense, saying she feared for her safety, but investigators stated that physical evidence contradicted her story. No credible evidence supported that Owens posed an imminent threat when she knocked on the door.
| Event | Date | Details |
| Fatal Shooting | June 2, 2023 | 9 PM, Ocala, Florida |
| Arrest | June 6, 2023 | Charged with manslaughter and assault |
| Trial Verdict | August 16, 2024 | Guilty of manslaughter with firearm |
| Sentencing | November 25, 2024 | 25 years in prison |
After a week-long trial in August 2024, an all-white jury found Lorincz guilty of first-degree felony manslaughter. Prosecutors argued that her actions showed depraved disregard for human life. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison on November 25, 2024, and is currently appealing her conviction.
“I’m told over the phone that my daughter has been killed. I cried. I screamed. I screamed.”
— Pamela Dias, Ajike Owens’ mother
The Owens Family Navigates a Life Forever Changed
Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother from Atlanta, relocated to Ocala to raise her four grandchildren. The oldest was 12 years old, followed by 9, 6, and 2 years old at the time of the tragedy. Izzy, the youngest son who witnessed his mother’s death, told Deborah Roberts about a song his mother used to sing to him titled “I Am What God Says I Am.”
Dias reflected on the guilt and grief that continues to haunt the family. The conviction, she said, validated what she already knew, that her daughter’s life should never have been taken. Despite time passing, the grief and hurt have not passed, she shared in interviews with 20/20.
Why Tonight’s ABC 20/20 Special Matters More Than You Know
The case of Ajike Owens sparked national conversation about Florida’s stand-your-ground law and its application across racial lines. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump called her killing an unconscionable act of a mother simply knocking on a door. The family, along with community advocates, created “Standing in the Gap,” a nonprofit fund to support families affected by racially motivated violence.
Tonight’s 20/20 episode, “The Neighbor From Hell,” brings the Owens family’s voices center stage for the first time. Deborah Roberts conducts exclusive interviews with Owens’ mother and her surviving children, examining how this family continues to honor Ajike’s memory while pushing for justice and systemic change in how self-defense laws are enforced.
Sources
- ABC News – Family navigates grief in exclusive 20/20 interview with Deborah Roberts
- Wikipedia – Comprehensive timeline and legal details of the Killing of Ajike Owens case
- Marion County Sheriff’s Office – Official police and investigative records, body camera footage
