A Florida woman accused of fatally shooting her neighbour - a Black mother-of-four - was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of manslaughter and other offences, authorities have confirmed.
Susan Louise Lorincz, 58, who is white, was arrested on charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault in the death of Ajike Owens, Sheriff Billy Woods of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Authorities came under pressure on Tuesday to arrest and charge Lorincz, who is accused of firing through her front her door on Friday night, killing her neighbour in a case that has put Florida’s divisive “stand your ground” law back into the spotlight.
Mr Woods said that this was not a stand your ground case but “simply a killing.”
When interviewed, Lorincz claimed that she acted in self-defence and that Ms Owens had been trying to break down her door prior to her discharging her firearm.
Lorincz also claimed that Ms Owens, 35, had attacked her in the past.
Through their investigation - including taking eyewitness statements - detectives were able to establish that Lorincz’s actions were not justifiable under Florida law, a statement from the sheriff’s office said.
About three dozen mostly Black protesters gathered outside the Marion County Judicial Center to demand that the shooter be arrested in the country’s latest flashpoint over race and gun violence.
The chief prosecutor, State Attorney William Gladson, met with the protesters and urged patience while the investigation continues.
Mr Woods had said Monday that detectives were working with the State Attorney’s Office and had to investigate possible self-defence claims before they can move forward with any possible criminal charges. The sheriff pointed out that because of the ‘stand your ground’ law he could not legally make an arrest unless he could prove the shooter did not act in self-defence.
On Tuesday, a stuffed teddy bear and bouquets marked the area near where Ms Owens was shot. Protesters chanted “No justice, no peace” and carried signs saying: “Say her name Ajike Owens” and “it’s about us.”
The sheriff said Ms Owens was shot moments after going to the apartment of Lorincz, who had yelled at Ms Owens’ children as they played in a nearby lot.
He also said Lorincz had reportedly thrown a pair of skates that hit one of the children.
Deputies responding to a trespassing call at the apartment Friday night found Ms Owens suffering from gunshot wounds. She later died in hospital.
Before the confrontation, Lorincz had been yelling racial slurs at the children, according to a statement from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Ms Owens’ family.
He also represented Trayvon Martin’s family in 2012, when the Black teenager was killed in a case that drew worldwide attention to the state’s stand your ground law.
The sheriff’s office hasn’t confirmed there were slurs uttered or said whether race was a factor in the shooting.
In 2017, Florida lawmakers updated the state’s self-defense statute to shift the burden of proof from a person claiming self-defence to prosecutors. That means authorities have to rule out self-defence before bringing charges. Before the change in law, prosecutors could charge someone with a shooting, and then defence attorneys would have to present an affirmative defense for why their client shouldn’t be convicted.
Missouri and Florida are among about 30 states that have stand your ground laws.
