Susan Lorincz, 60, who was found guilty of murdering her black neighbor last year behind closed doors, was sentenced Monday in Florida to 25 years in prison. Before handing down the sentence, Lorincz said he felt “appalled by my behavior” and insisted it was “not racist.” Photo courtesy of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Nov. 25 (UPI) — A 60-year-old White woman, who was found guilty of manslaughter in the murder that killed her black neighbor last year through a closed door, was sentenced Monday in Florida to 25 years in prison, as the judge ruled that the shooting “was based on anger. rather than fear.”
“I find that the shooting, when I listened to all the judgments and everything about the sentence here, certainly does not amount to murder, but aggravated murder,” Judge Robert Hodges said before sentencing Susan. Lorincz, faces more than 30 years for one count of first-degree murder and one count of assault.
Lorincz expressed few emotions as the judge announced the 25-year sentence, but cried earlier as he delivered a statement to the family of 35-year-old Ajike Owens.
“I am in great pain. Not only my mother died, but my daughter and sister. I wish I could go back and change things so that she would be here,” Lorincz said.
“I feel terrible for my actions. Please accept my sincere and humble apology for this tragedy,” Lorincz added, as he insisted the shooting “was not racial.”
Lorincz was convicted in August of shooting through her front door following a dispute over Owens’ children who were told to “get off her property” after they shouted “racial slurs,” according to Owens family attorney Ben Crump. .
“It never happened,” Lorincz insisted Monday during his sentencing remarks. “I never called anyone the ‘N’ word.”
Owens was knocking on Lorincz’s door on June 2, 2023, when he was shot across the street. Owens later died from his injuries.
“I was afraid of this woman,” Lorincz said Monday, after listing the many health issues she has faced to explain her fear. “When she was banging on the door there was a noise. This woman kept coming after me and calling me crazy. This woman scared me.”
But Judge Hodges said he found “the shooting was based on anger rather than fear.”
“Even though he was knocking loudly, he wasn’t trying to get into the residence. He was behind the door. The door was locked and the police were on their way,” Hodges said, adding that Lorincz inflicted serious injuries that will affect Owens. family for the rest of their lives.
“They will live the rest of their lives without their mother, which is the greatest harm Lorincz has done to them,” the judge said.
Earlier Monday, Owens’ family said Lorincz deserved “the maximum punishment under the law.”
“There is not a day, not an hour, that I don’t cry for my daughter,” said Pamela Davis, Owens’ mother, who spoke on behalf of her daughter.
“I also cry for my grandchildren, I cry for them, all the tears in my eyes are for Titus, Africa, Ezra and Isaac,” said Davis. “I see the pain in their eyes. Even when they look happy. I see it because I carry that same pain.”