Naman Shrestha
The seemingly quiet and peaceful neighborhood in Ocala, Florida, turned into a crime scene when Ajike “AJ” Owens was killed in the summer of 2023. The gruesome crime and the investigation that ensued are covered in a detailed manner in Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ and ABC’s ’20/20: The Neighbor from Hell,’ with the help of police bodycam footage and interviews with Ajike’s loved ones. The investigation led the detectives to a minor neighborhood dispute that escalated into something deadly.
Ajike “AJ” Owens Was Killed in Front of a Neighbor’s Residence in Ocala
Born on January 13, 1988, in Broward County, Florida, Ajike “A.J.” Shantrell Owens was the beloved daughter of Pamela Dias. Alongside her mother, she was also raised by her grandparents, Chryste W. Adderson and Franklin Bo Adderson, alongside her brother, Otis F. Dias, Jr. In 2006, she graduated from Vanguard High School in Ocala, Florida, with flying colors. Ajike then furthered her education by attending the College of Central Florida and Hillsborough Community College in Plant City. After completing her education, she entered the hospitality/food industry and served as the Head Guest Department Manager at a local McDonald’s.
Known for her loyalty and hard work, she often worked overtime to ensure the restaurant provided the highest possible level of service. On the personal front, Ajike was a doting mother to four loving children — Isaac Williams, Israel “Izzy” Owens, Africa Williams, and Titus Owens. She was involved in each of their lives, be it watching the boys play sports or cheering for her cheerleading daughter. The devout Christian was also known for her compassionate and helpful nature. Living in a suburban neighborhood in Ocala, Florida, Ajike aimed to provide her kids with the best life possible.
However, her dreams were shattered when fate intervened on the fateful night of June 2, 2023. Around 9:01 pm, the authorities received reports of gunfire at a residence in her neighborhood. When the police arrived at the scene, they found 35-year-old Ajike Owens in critical condition, with a gunshot wound to her chest. She was rushed to the hospital for further treatment, but was shortly pronounced dead. The detectives then launched a homicide investigation in order to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Ajike “AJ” Owens’ Killer Claimed Self-Defense During Interrogation
As soon as the authorities arrived at the scene, Ajike Owens’ neighbors blamed a woman named Susan Louise Lorincz for the murder. While the paramedics tended to Ajike and her family, the police detained the woman and took her to the police station. It turned out that Ajike and Susan had been feuding for the past two years. Since January 2021, Susan had called deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to complain about Ajike’s children, along with other children in the neighborhood. She had a problem with the children playing on the grassy lawn next to her apartment, which she reportedly claimed was part of her property. On February 25, 2022, Susan reported an incident to the authorities, alleging that Ajike had thrown a “no trespassing” sign at her.
After calling the cops multiple times for kids trespassing and harassing her, Susan filed a formal complaint at the police station on May 22, 2023. According to numerous neighbors in the area, Susan used to allegedly verbally harass the children and shout curse words at them while they played in the nearby area. As per witness interviews, on the night of the shooting, Susan threw a pair of roller skates at one of Ajike’s sons, after which the mother went to confront the woman at her home. When Ajike knocked on her door, Susan fired a single shot through her closed front door, leading to her death. At the police station, Susan told the detectives that she pulled the trigger in self-defense, claiming that Ajike had been pounding on the door aggressively and threatening to kill her.
Upon further investigation, Susan was brought in for questioning again on June 6, 2023. The detectives confronted her with contradictory eyewitness accounts and the fact that she had placed two emergency calls in the span of 2 minutes on the fateful night, first to report an alleged trespassing and the second to report the shooting. Meanwhile, Susan alleged that Ajike had been violently banging on her door for a long time before she shot her through the door. At the end of the interview, she was arrested and charged with manslaughter by use of a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault. More than a year later, on August 16, 2024, she was found guilty of manslaughter. Ultimately, much to Ajike’s loved ones’ relief, on November 25, 2024, Susan Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder.
Read More: Susan Lorincz: Where is the Killer Now?
You must be logged in to post a comment.