The Perfect Neighbor (2025) | Transcript

The Perfect Neighbor (2025)
Director: Geeta Gandbhir
Release date: January 24, 2025 (Sundance); October 17, 2025 on Netflix

Plot: On June 2, 2023, in Ocala, Florida, 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Shantrell Owens was shot and killed by her neighbor, 58-year-old Susan Louise Lorincz. Owens had gone to Lorincz’s door after an altercation between her children and Lorincz in a grassy field nearby. While Owens stood outside the front door, Lorincz fired a single shot through it, striking Owens in the chest. The film explores disputes leading up to the shooting by using bodycam footage of disputes.

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The Perfect Neighbor (2025) | Transcript

[radio static]

[indistinct voices over radio]

[man] 2968. Code two.

[woman on radio] Just advise, repeat.

[woman] 911. What is the address of the emergency?

Somebody got shot!

[patrol car engine starts]

[man] Boys, come here.

Y’all boys come here! Come here!

[police siren sounds]

Come here. Stay over here.

You sure she got shot?

Yes!

Oh my God! Why did she do this?

[woman] Wake up.

[dispatcher] Okay, they’re going as fast as they can. Where is it?

Right here! Right here!

We need medical aid right there.

[man] She’s on the ground!

[officer speaks indistinctly over radio]

[people shout]

[woman] Hold on.

[woman] Oh my God!

[officer] I’m in front. I’m in front.

Sheriff’s office.

Come outside with your hands up!

It’s the Marion County Sheriff’s Office!

Come outside with your hands up!

[dramatic music]

[detective 1] Monday, June 5th, 2023, 9:38 a.m.

We’re out at the incident location.

[radio bleeps] Just doing a canvass.

[other man speaks indistinctly]

Okay.

[knocks on door]

[detective 2] Sheriff’s office.

[knocks jauntily]

Sheriff’s office!

[detective 1] Hello. Good morning.

I’m good. I’m with the sheriff’s office. I’m the detective.

We’re investigating the incident that happened on Friday night.

[detective 2] You mind if I sit?

Well, the chair’s broken.

[woman] Let me go get you a chair.

[detective 2] How long you been living here?

[woman] About three years.

[detective 2] Has she lived here the whole time, or something different?

[woman] No, she moved in after we did.

Maybe two years she’s been here.

If I’m not mistaken. I’m not sure…

[detective 2] That’s fine.

So approximately two years.

[woman] But from my understanding, everybody, all the kids, has problems with this lady.

[detective 2] What grade ya in?

[boy] Fifth…

[detective 2] Okay, so you just finished fifth grade and you’re going into sixth.

I want to discuss a truth versus a lie, okay?

I’m going to give you a few examples here for a second, okay?

If I were to tell you that there was a little girl, and she came in this room, and she colored all the walls red with a crayon, and then she came outside and told me she didn’t do it…

Is that the truth or a lie?

[boy] That’s a lie.

[detective 2] Okay. And if she colored them all red, then she went outside and said, “I did that, Detective Pinder…”

Would that be the truth?

[boy] Yes.

[detective 2] Okay. When we talk today, can we only talk about true things?

[boy] Yes.

[detective 2] Have you ever seen this lady before?

[boy] Multiple times, yeah.

[detective 2] Multiple times.

[boy] She doesn’t like people playing around, over where, like, she lives, like, in that grass over there.

Because… she thinks that it’s her property.

[detective 2] Okay.

Um, and was she…

Do you remember her saying anything else?

[boy] That I’m going to report this to the police.

[detective 2] Okay.

[boy] Us playing around the area.

[beeps]

[children shout and play]

[officer] 097 in progress.

[indistinct voices on the radio]

[female officer] What did you call for?

I called because the lady across the street on the phone hit me with a sign.

Her children were walking their dog on the property.

It clearly says, “No Trespassing.”

And they’re always walking the dog.

The dog’s always taking a crap.

There’s poop on the sidewalk.

All kinds of stuff.

I said, “Can you keep the dog over there?”

I was going to take a picture of her dog and she said, “Don’t take a picture of my children.”

And I’m like, “Nah.”

And then she just got in my face and she picked up the sign and threw it at me.

And it hit me in the leg.

[female officer] Your name?

My name is Susan Lorincz.

Susan. Spell that last name.

LORINCZ.

[officer] What was that sign you mentioned?

[Susan] Want me to get it?

I mean, you can see she really threw it at me.

She shouldn’t have removed the sign.

It’s the landlord’s sign.

I was actually going to buy this apartment. After this, I’m leaving.

I’m not going to buy the quad.

[female officer] I see a smirk on your face. You already know?

That she called the police on me?

Yes. I see you’re on the phone.

With that little smirk.

Because this is… this is…

It’s funny, because I’m the one that never comes outside and says anything to her, but today, I just happened to feel it.

First of all, before she moved in, this big open space right here, all the kids, they like to play kickball, football, in the space.

She moves in, “I don’t want y’all playing over here, it’s private property.”

I told her, “No, you can’t tell them, technically, if they’re not in your personal, personal space, that they can’t walk the dog or even throw their football over here.”

“Oh, but you Black people always just…”

Okay, all right, whatever.

That doesn’t move me.

She’s basically, like, ramming the sign in my face.

She went to pick it back up.

I picked the sign up and I threw the sign.

I literally picked the sign up, and as I walked off, I threw the sign.

I said, “I can go and buy a sign too.

It still doesn’t mean anything.”

But she did say it was thrown her way.

Yeah, I did toss it. I’m not gonna lie.

But it hit her.

I didn’t hit her with the sign.

Not deliberately, yes.

Do you have your information, or do you want me to…

[male officer] Ma’am, can I talk to you real quick?

[woman 2] Me?

Yes, ma’am.

Did you see anything?

No, sir, I didn’t.

No, I just came outside.

Did your daughter tell you that she saw anything?

Well, she did tell me that they were arguing and that, I guess she had picked up a sign and, like, just, like, when she picked up the sign, and she walked away and threw it behind her.

And… But it didn’t hit the lady or anything. But that was it.

But I will say that that lady…

I didn’t see anything.

But I will say that that lady is always messing with people’s kids.

She’s always…

She’s always trying to record the kids and always talking crap.

But I didn’t see anything, so I can’t say.

[officer] Okay. All righty.

[female officer]

Pronounce your first name.

[woman] Ajike.

[male officer] How’s it going?

Say it, another day.

All right, well, just call me.

[male officer] Hey, ma’am.

Did you see anything?

Yeah. She didn’t touch that lady.

She just took the thing out the ground, and that was it.

[male officer] What thing?

The thing. The no trespassing thing.

No, she didn’t throw it at her leg.

She did not throw the damn thing… because I never go.

No, she didn’t throw it.

She kind of tossed it.

Shut up, he’s not over here talking to you.

She just set it down, and the lady just happened to be there.

She didn’t throw it at the lady.

She didn’t touch the lady or nothing.

All she did was tell the lady to stop yelling at her kids.

That lady yells at everybody’s kids out here.

[male officer] Okay. Well, I mean, I wouldn’t go over there anymore.

[female officer] She might not like it because I’m a Black female.

It’s harassing people, like, you don’t own this.

You can’t tell people…

[female officer] The more she says it, of course the children don’t go because they know.

Okay, what does that mean?

Can’t go over there.

That’s fine.

I mean, if it’s hers, it’s hers.

[male officer] It doesn’t matter if it’s not hers.

She rents there, just like you rent here.

You wanted somebody trespassed from right here, you called us, and we saw them on the property, they’d be trespassed, and next time we came out, they’d go to jail.

Okay?

It’s the way that works.

All right, I mean…

[male officer] You have the same right as she does.

I mean… She doesn’t want them over there.

The landlord put a sign there for a reason.

It is what it is.

All right.

Okay?

Absolutely.

[Ajike] I’m sorry.

[female officer] Okay. No problem at all.

I understand how you feel.

Believe me. That’s why I got a house.

[Ajike] This is our last year.

Prayerfully. This is it.

[children] Case closed!

I’m gonna write it up as a battery.

Just no arrests can be made at this time.

Okay.

The fact that I didn’t actually get her throwing the sign at me?

[male officer] With nobody, and nobody actually saying that they saw it.

No independent witnesses that are credible, so…

How convenient.

[officer] All righty?

[Susan] Thank you so much.

Yes, ma’am.

[female officer] You need anything else?

No, we’re just gonna go on a walk really quick.

I’m sorry. He’s a big baby.

[female officer laughs] I love fur babies.

[chattering]

[female officer] What’s his name?

What’s that baby’s name?

[Ajike] Cash.

[female officer] Cash money.

[detective 1] We’re talking to people.

If anybody heard or saw anything or know anything about the people involved or anything.

[woman] To be honest, sir, all I know is that lady, the Black lady?

She was always with her kids.

[detective 1] Right.

[woman] She wasn’t a threat or anything.

Right.

At all whatsoever.

She has a little infant, about two or three years old.

She’s always in the house with him.

The two little boys and the little girl, they are the ones that’s always outside playing.

I’ve never heard anything negative about this lady or anything.

[woman] Ajike, as a mom, she was like the mom.

She was a manager for McDonald’s.

You know, Ajike would switch her schedule around.

You know, “I can’t work this day, or can’t do this, I can’t do that” just so she can be there for her kids.

Someone who sacrificed for the children to have private school, football lessons, gymnastics, dance, everything.

[woman 2] She would tell me that there was this white woman that lived across the street that was always, you know, antagonizing the kids and calling them names.

[Susan] Why are they on private property that they have no means…

I mean, they don’t rent here.

[officer] Well, if those people aren’t complaining, I can’t get them off that property.

[Susan] Well, then I’ll send a cease and desist order to them.

I’ll have my lawyer do it.

[Susan] There is, in the real estate laws, you should know this, that you have the right to peaceful, quiet enjoyment of your property.

You know, that is in the law.

[officer] Well, that’s civil, so we don’t… we don’t really deal with that.

I understand, but those kids shouldn’t be over here.

Okay.

They shouldn’t be screaming and, you know, running around neither.

I mean, the parents aren’t attending them, obviously, they’re just…

I understand it’s a nuisance, but I’d rather kids be screaming ’cause they’re out here playing, have a good time than stealing cars and robbing people, so…

[Susan sighs and mutters to herself]

All right. Well, you have a good night.

[officer] What a fucking…

[man] I own that building next door.

Apartment three.

[detective 1] Okay.

I put up a sign, “Keep off the grass on my property line.”

[detective 1] You put that up?

Yeah I told her, I says I can’t do any more than my property line.

And that’s a very small portion.

The majority of the area belongs to the other quad.

Okay.

That’s where they play, mostly.

[Susan] I’m having problems with the neighbors’ children.

They come up to me and just scream like idiots.

And I finally lost my nerve today.

I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I called the kids retards.

Then the mother comes screaming at me.

“Don’t call my children retards.

I’m going to put you in a nursing home.”

Um, is there anything I can do with these people?

Because they are getting ridiculous.

I mean, I don’t bug anybody.

I’m a single woman.

And I work from home.

You know, I’m peaceful.

I’m like the perfect neighbor.

You barely ever see me.

[male officer] Number three.

I think one and two is on that side?

[knocks jauntily]

[male officer] Hello, sheriff’s office.

What’s going on this evening?

Lots of children screaming their fool heads off, running around.

I had my truck parked in front of here, so I didn’t have to listen to the screaming and yelling.

As soon as I moved the truck, the kids are coming up.

I’m like, guys, stop.

They know they’re not supposed to be here. They’ve been told a million times.

And the little kid tells me to shut up to my face.

I said, “Don’t be disrespectful to me.”

And he’s exchanging words back and forth.

I’m like, “Listen, my name is Dr. Lorincz.

Don’t tell me to shut up.”

And he was calling me names and I’m like, no, no, no, we’re not going to do that.

[female officer] I’m going to go talk to these kids.

Hello, sheriff’s office.

I’m Deputy Heckman.

Were any of you guys over here messing with this lady?

No. We were playing football.

Hold on. Let me just say one thing real quick.

Okay.

Because it’s an open spot, all of that is not her property.

So that man that does live right there, he says that all the kids can play because they like to play football over there.

They literally, they’re nowhere near her property.

Y’all can watch her cameras.

They’re right over there.

She will come outside, yell at them.

I have yelled at her before because these are children.

I mean, everyone down this whole block has yelled at this lady, because of how she talks to the kids.

When someone, when an adult says something, now she wants to call the police.

[female officer] Kids are just trying to be kids. I understand.

I totally understand that.

Right.

[male officer] What’s going on, y’all?

[female officer] This is the mom that went over there and spoke to her.

Y’all on school break yet?

[all] Yeah.

When did that start?

[all] Um, like a week ago.

[male officer] What? I know some people aren’t starting until tomorrow.

Ah, they got dog doodoo over here?

[children] Ew, there’s so much!

[female officer] I’m sorry.

I want to step a little closer because I can barely hear you.

I took my son to question the one whose face that she was in.

And I sent the other two kids inside.

I said that’s it, y’all done playing, come inside.

We go in there and I knock on her door.

And immediately, “Get the hell off my property.”

“You are trespassing.

Get the hell off my property.”

So I just said, “Okay, I’m here with my son, and I just want to ask you what happened because I’m not out here.”

And there have been times where kids are going to be kids, and she’ll say something, and they say something like “Okay, Karen.”

Or somethin’ like that.

Okay, sure.

I’ve always instructed my kids, she’s still an adult at the end of the day.

You don’t argue with her.

You come and you tell me.

Let me take it up with her.

[male officer] Whose mom are you?

Any of them?

Well, they’re all mine. I’m sorry, no.

My kids aren’t really here, but they are always outside playing with them.

So let me just talk to you guys real quick, okay?

Um, what kind of names did she call you?

[all] She calls us retards.

“Retards,” the B-word, the P-word.

She pulls up, she drives that truck.

[female officer] Right.

[Ajike] So she’ll park it there.

Then she’ll set her alarm off from inside.

That’s what she said, that she’ll park her truck up here.

Then she’ll come over.

“You guys are getting near my truck, you’re touching my truck.”

So, the last time she did it, I told all the kids.

I said… I was out here with my dog, and I happened to see her pull there, and they’ll tell me, “Mom, she set the alarm off.

We did not do anything to her truck.”

So this particular day, I told them, I said, “Everybody come over here and let’s just see.”

And sure enough, just randomly, like every six minutes, the alarm would go off and nobody’s even over there.

So, I’m like, go back and play.

Then she’ll come outside.

“Oh, you guys are near my truck.

This is private property.”

Lady, they weren’t even over there and you’re setting off the alarm.

Like, why don’t you want kids to be kids?

Just being mean.

They’re not terrorizing the neighborhood.

They’re not ringing your doorbell and running.

They are playing football.

They’re not even messing with her.

They’re playing hide-and-go-seek.

Like, seriously.

Yeah.

[female officer] Yes, ma’am.

I’ll go let my partner know.

[male officer] You know what a devil’s advocate is, so that means I play both sides, right?

So I got to think of both aspects of every situation.

So I was a kid once.

Everyone was a kid once.

We’re all loud as kids, we like to yell and scream and fight.

And so I get it.

But when it’s close to someone’s house, sure, it gets a little annoying sometimes.

I won’t lie, okay? But if you guys have permission to be over there, then, you know, I can’t really get on you guys too much.

But if someone’s going on her property, which is just her porch, it’s not okay.

I’m not saying you did.

She’s claiming you did.

I wasn’t here to see it, so I can’t… I can’t go one way or the other, all right?

[child] She did have, like… she has cameras, she records us.

[male officer] Yeah, okay. So…

And I want you guys to run around, hoot and holler all you can, because I’d rather see you guys outside playing than on them TikToks, all right?

[woman laughs]

If she starts screaming at you guys, I want you to go tell an adult.

Okay, I don’t want you to antagonize her, okay?

Because what happens is when you guys antagonize her, she can make you guys look bad.

And you guys are just out here playing, right? Okay.

You guys understand everything, you kind of get where I’m comin’ from with that?

I want to make you guys look like the good guys, okay?

All righty.

[woman] Thanks.

You’re very welcome.

[female officer] Mom said that they were over here playing football.

The old man, I guess, lives over here.

[male officer] They said he comes out and plays with them.

Yeah. He has no problem with kids.

She’s the only problem.

Yeah.

‘Cause they were saying, they’ll be outside playing.

I was like, I get it, you guys are loud.

Like, yeah, sometimes.

[female officer] They’re kids.

Yeah.

They’re like, even if we’re not, we’ll just be sitting there, and she’ll scream at us.

And that’s what Mom’s said.

Nobody’s even over there.

If the kids are just, like, hanging out there in the open field, she’ll just set the car alarm off.

So she’s just been…

I should get some Pop–

Its for New Year’s and bring them back to them.

Right!

[laughs] Y’all have a good evening.

Thank you.

[male officer] Psycho.

[female officer ] It’s an open field for them to go play.

It’s not an open field. It’s two, um, parcels that… one belongs to him.

One belongs to the neighbor.

It’s not an open lot.

So it doesn’t even belong to you.

I understand.

Okay, so we’ve instructed the kids to not bother you.

Okay.

Or if you come out and you say something to them, they’re supposed to go get their parents.

What about her threat that she’s going to come and drag my ass and beat me?

Well, that’s not what she said, according to her.

Oh, no. Honest to God, she said that.

Well, at the end of the day, it’s she said-she said.

On top of what the kids said, the kids said that you came out and you were coming at them in an aggressive manner and they thought that you were going to hurt them.

Oh, yeah, sure.

I have to believe you, but I also have to believe them.

So, like I said, it’s all going to be documented.

If you’d like a copy of the report, you can call the sheriff’s office and get documentation of it.

All right. Yeah, no, I would never, ever.

Yes, ma’am.

[Susan] Unbelievable.

So, like I said, if there’s any future problems, just give us a call.

I instructed them to do the same.

Okay. Okay.

Okay?

Okay. Yeah.

[tense music playing]

[detective 1] Is there issues with this person? Like…

[man] If you check history on dispatch from her phone number, this is nonstop.

[woman] Then she got an air horn.

And she would open her door and stand there.

Scared the hell outta me.

[detective 1] Yeah.

[man] She would drive her pickup and just go “Waaah!” Like, in the field.

[woman] And I mean, she gunned her engine so hard.

I swear, I thought one of these kids was hit.

I swear.

And she just kept on flying out the neighborhood.

He pulls in, and there’s a lady in there ramming… like, just ramming the gate back and forth with her truck.

I don’t know, she obviously must’ve got locked in, but I don’t know what she was doing back there to begin with, because this gate’s always locked and there’s signs, you know?

One other time a guy got locked in here, and he called me and he got let out, you know.

[officer] All right.

It’s that simple.

This isn’t open to the public.

You have to register, and…

[officer] All right, well, give me one second.

[radio beeps]

[radio] 2018 Nissan truck, gray. 1054…

[officer] Ah, she lives right down the street.

[indistinct speech on radio]

[knocks on door]

[radio chatter]

[knocks forcefully]

[knocks on door]

[Susan yelling] One minute!

[officer] Jeez.

Sheriff’s office.

[Susan] What do you want?

Are you Miss Susan?

Yes, I am.

Can you step out here for a second?

[Susan] I was in bed.

Okay.

Hello.

I am in a nightgown.

Okay. I just have a couple of questions.

My name is Deputy Paddock with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Okay.

Where were you at today?

Um, here.

You were here?

Yeah.

Is that your pickup truck out there?

Yes, it is.

Okay.

I just have to read you something before I ask anything else, okay?

Okay.

Did you let anybody use your pickup truck today?

No.

No?

And by your knowledge, your pickup truck was here the entire day?

I went out earlier today because I had a flat.

Okay.

Do you mind just stepping out here just for a second?

Okay, so I have to read you this because I have to ask you very direct questions.

Okay.

All right?

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can be used against you in the court of law.

You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present while questioned.

If you can’t afford to hire…

Can I get something on? I’m freezing.

No. Come back.

Come back. No, no, no, no, no.

Let me just get something on.

Do you understand each of these rights as I’ve explained them to you?

[Susan] Yes.

Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me now?

No.

What?

No.

No?

Okay.

So, since you don’t want to talk to me, what I’ll have to do is I’ll go and find the truck driver that saw you there.

Yeah.

And do a photo lineup.

And then when he identifies you, the person is willing to want to press charges.

So I’ll come back here.

I’ve already asked you.

You told me you don’t want to talk to me.

Anything else you say I wouldn’t be able to use at all.

So I’m not going to go forward with this.

If you don’t want to talk to me, that’s fine. That’s your choice.

I didn’t realize what it was. I’m sorry.

You realize what it was because you pretty much started saying it beforehand.

And now you’ve said that you don’t.

I’m not going to do that.

Okay. I was taking medication.

That’s why I didn’t want to talk.

I’m sorry, I panicked.

And then the guy locked me in there, I thought…

I’m sorry. I’ve been previously raped and beaten.

And so I panicked.

I mean, I really panicked.

And then I thought I was in trouble.

Like, I thought someone was going to harm me.

Okay. So, here’s the issue that we’re going to have.

All right? He wants somebody to pay for his gate, because you severely damaged his gate.

I also severely damaged my truck.

I’m not kidding. I just freaked out.

Okay, well, I’ll go down there and talk to him, okay?

[Susan] I was trying to get out.

I getcha.

[woman] Susan, she would come out and scream.

And the language.

Around these little kids!

[detective 1] That Susan would use?

Yeah. Oh ho ho!

[detective 2] Describe to me what she was saying.

[child] The F-word. The B-word.

[detective 2] B-word and F-word.

[woman] She called them slaves.

She told them that the field that they were on wasn’t the Underground Railroad.

[woman] Calling the little kids “niggers” and all this and all of that.

[officer 1] Are you guys chasing a dog around here?

Chasing a dog? What color is it?

I don’t know.

[girl 1] What color is it?

You guys chasing a dog or trying to put a dog into a car or something?

No. The Karen called.

The Karen called.

[woman] She’s saying…

I don’t know why she keeps trying to waste her time.

The kids are just playing around here, right?

Excuse me. He wants to talk to you.

She came out and started talking smack.

And she flipped me off.

She’s flipped him off, because this is public space.

[children chatter]

[officer 1] I dealt with this before, let me go talk to this guy.

I just came outside.

How you doing, sir?

Nine times out of ten, that lady probably called.

I know.

You know what I’m sayin’?

The kids always play.

They always play over there. This man over here say they can play in the grass.

She’s… I don’t know if she’s schizophrenic, bipolar, I don’t know.

Are these rentals or do you buy them?

Rentals.

These are rentals?

So you can buy some.

I mean, I think she owns hers.

But it doesn’t even come with property, does it? It’s just a house.

I don’t think so.

‘Cause if it’s a duplex, it wouldn’t.

She does it all the time.

Oh, I know. I’ve been here.

I’ve been here when they were playing tag and “trespassing.”

She do it all the time.

I’ll go talk to her.

[children chatter]

I’m gonna go talk to her.

Is she going to yell at us?

She asks…

Every time I walk past, she thinks we’re trying to steal her truck.

Or by her truck!

We’re not even… We’re 11!

Okay, yeah.

[officer 2] Do you even know how to drive?

[child] No!

Hello. How are you?

Good. Is it Susan?

Yes.

Okay. What’s going on?

The kid from across the street and his little buddies, they are over here, they’re stepping on the signs and stuff.

He brings out a puppy.

He wants to put his puppy in my truck.

I don’t go for that.

In the bed of your truck?

Yeah.

Who?

This little child who posed for me because he thought he was being so bloody cute.

That little child.

He was the one that put the dog in?

He was trying to.

What kind of dog was it?

Just a little small dog.

Okay.

She calls the police every day.

[officer 2] You’re acting like a bunch of kids.

Yeah! ‘Cause we are kids.

I know.

Duh!

That’s why we don’t worry about it.

His mother has literally attacked me.

Picked up the sign and threw it at me.

I literally don’t do anything over here.

I’m quiet.

You know, I expect my neighbors to be respectful.

Okay?

[officer 1] I apologize this happened as well.

She not come to the door?

She did.

I was trying to talk to her.

Okay.

Did you explain to her that there doesn’t need to be a call every time a kid’s playing on the road or in the yard?

Well, apparently, they’ve been stomping…

That one looks like it’s stomped out, too.

Apparently, they’ve been stomping out her signs and running past her windows and screaming and, like, dingdong ditching her and are knocking on the door.

There does come a point where you kind of have to accept that you live with a bunch of kids.

But she’s also the only one that ever calls.

Yeah.

[children shout]

But this bossy one, you need to take her to jail!

I ain’t takin’ her to jail.

[child] She’s bossy!

We’re gonna take off, but can you guys just do me a favor?

You’re bossy! Bossy!

Just keep an eye on your kids and make sure they don’t go over there?

Because I think we all appreciate not getting a bunch of calls to come over here over and over about nothing.

We all kind of know what the deal is.

This is, like, six, seven times.

I think it’s like twice a week.

And you know what?

When I was growing up, I was doin’ all the same stuff that these kids were doing.

Yeah.

I was probably…

Allegedly. Maybe. I don’t know, I was probably bothering one of my older neighbors that hated kids, you know?

You know? I’m not saying it’s right.

Back in our day, though, if you were doing that, they could just come out and threaten you.

Yeah.

Come out with the belt, you know?

Yeah. Yeah.

But then you know what? You ran like hell.

I come from the era where your parents are so cool, and you got your ass whooped there, and then you got…

Really?

Yeah. Yeah, me too.

I get it. I understand.

Like, they’re kids.

And that’s why we don’t… we don’t come out acting all crazy about it.

We all… All the parents are cool.

I look out for them just like I look out for my own.

Do you know what that kid in the red shirt’s name is?

Which one?

The one right there.

The little short one?

Yeah.

Ahh. Nope.

What’s your… Afrika? Afrika?

What’s your brother name?

My big brother? Isaac.

Red shirt? Izzy.

Does he have a little puppy?

[man] Nah.

Yes.

She’s saying he was trying to put the dog in the back of the truck.

[man laughs] In the back of the truck?

You think he can even lift that dog?

That dog is bigger than him.

The poodle is bigger than him.

Literally. Like, that dog is…

That dog stands this tall, about this wide around.

He can’t lift that dog.

He can try.

Well, y’all need anything from us, or are we good? Okay.

See you guys.

[children] Bye!

[children chatter]

All right, y’all have fun.

[woman] The neighbors and I would all talk about well, why didn’t she move?

I said, when I moved in here, she told me she was moving out.

[woman 2] She kept saying she was moving.

In March, in February, and I was just wondering why she ain’t never got out of here yet.

[Susan] They just keep…

They’re trespassing, trespassing.

Called an officer out last night, nobody shows up.

I guess the mother of the children may have interceded.

She was out there waiting.

I mean, I just have the burnt sign that they threw.

I’m like, all right, you’re sending me a message.

Thank you so much.

You want to see them go to jail, or do some sort of recourse for it?

[Susan] Yes, absolutely.

I like being honest with everybody so they know exactly what’s set down and done for them.

This is basically just gonna be an official police document because you don’t have video proof…

[Susan] I know.

…of the arson and the criminal mischief.

So it will just be a police document, more or less.

[child] Another day happened that my friend told me that the lady over there showed the kids that she had a gun.

[child] We were just playing over there, and then she was waving her gun and Isaac and all of them were like, run!

And we were hiding behind this car right here.

[teenager] And every time the basketball would go up there, I would be on my P’s and Q’s.

Like, ’cause I ain’t trying to get shot just for going on her driveway type shit.

[child] Maybe, like, two days before that?

[detective 2] About two days before she showed this gun?

[child] Yes.

[children playing]

[detective 2] What were you doing that day during the daytime hours when the sun was out on Friday?

[child] Well, me and my dad and my friends were playing a game.

She was taking pictures of us playing.

[neighbor child] Why is she recording us?

There’s nothing to record!

[children playing and shouting]

[man] Line up, let’s go!

[teenager] My little brother, he came and got me, and he said the old, no offense, but he said the old white lady outside is acting crazy.

So I’m like, oh, damn. I’m like, let me come see what that’s about.

[child] So I was outside playing basketball, and I just see a pair of roller skates flying at Izzy.

So me and then Izzy came over here.

He said the woman had a tablet.

I guess the woman took it and he came over there and said she threw roller skates at him.

So me and Isaac went over there.

And then she came out and with the umbrella and started swinging it, and called us a jack ASS.

[teenager] Next thing I heard him say was, “Izzy, go get Mom.”

[dispatcher] 911. What is the address of your emergency?

[Susan] We got kids trespassing, standing there, leaving all the toys around, just screaming, yelling, just being absolutely obnoxious.

I went and threw the roller skates over to the other side.

The kid says, “I’m going to beat you up for that.”

[dispatcher] Is he out there right now?

[Susan] Yeah, there are several kids out there now.

I’m fearing for my life.

I’m very scared.

[dispatcher] Were there any weapons involved?

[Susan] No.

And the kid’s saying I took his iPad and all this other shady shit that isn’t true.

I don’t like the kids threatening me that they’ll beat me up, that they’re going to get someone else to kill me.

This is just ridiculous.

They just keep badgering me and badgering me.

[Susan] I’m just sick of these children.

Now that they’re home from school, it’s like, you know, craziness.

[dispatcher] All right, we do want you to avoid that person and then keep your doors and windows locked.

An officer will be dispatched as soon as possible.

Do you want the officer to contact you?

[Susan] Please. Yes.

[dispatcher] All right.

[Susan] Because what’s going to happen is, his mom’s gonna go and wait for the officer, and run and say, “Oh my God,” I was threatening her kid.

Which just isn’t true.

[dispatcher] All right.

I’m going to go ahead and let you go, but please call us back if anything changes or if you get any further information or if they do leave, okay?

[Susan] Okay, thanks.

[child] Izzy’s mom came outside, and then she started all mad, she started walking to, to the lady’s house, and then she started banging on her, like, slide open door, and then regular door.

[woman] And it’s not like somebody’s throwing their body against the door trying to open it and just pounding on it.

Like I said, let me in.

[teenager] I hear knocking like dun, dun, dun.

And then she didn’t answer, and then I hear her knocking again, but this time louder, like dun, dun, dun.

[woman] Thud, thud, thud.

And as the thudding was going on, a woman was screaming like at the top of her lungs.

[child] In a, like, mad voice.

She said, “Why did you take my son’s tablet?”

[teenager] She said, “Come outside, bitch,” or something like that.

“I know you hear me outside, bitch.”

Something like that.

[detective 2] Where was the lady at, the woman with the blonde hair?

Where did she go?

[child] She was inside her house.

[detective 2] Did you hear the blonde woman say anything at all?

[child] No.

[detective 2] Did this…

This one, two, three?

Was this over a long or a short period?

[teenager] It was just those literally two knocks.

That’s all she got was two knocks.

[woman] And then bang!

Call 911!

[tense music]

Hey, call 911!

Please!

She shot my mom!

Who shot your mom?

The Karen!

With a freaking gun!

[dispatcher 1] 911, what is the address of the emergency?

[woman] I think somebody just got shot.

I heard one shot and everybody screaming “Call the police, call the police.”

[man] I think somebody got shot.

Y’all boys stay over here!

[man] Somebody call 911!

[woman] My neighbor has been screaming at the kids outside.

And all of a sudden, I heard what to me sounded like a gunshot.

[man] It’s the old lady that always calls the cops over here.

[dispatcher 2] It looks like we’re receiving multiple calls in reference to this also.

[dispatcher 3] 911, what is the address?

[teenager] His mom got shot.

His mom got shot!

Hey, is your mom laying in the ground?

[boy] Yes!

[sirens sound]

[dispatcher 4] 911, what’s the address of the emergency?

[Susan, emotionally]

1662 Southwest 107th Lane.

[sobbing]

Oh my God, this lady just tried to break down my door.

I shot through the door.

[hyperventilating]

Oh my God!

[dispatcher 4] Okay, what is your name?

Susan Lorincz.

[dispatcher 4] Okay, take a deep breath for me, calm down.

[Susan] I didn’t know what to do.

I grabbed my gun and I shot at the door and I thought she was gonna kill me.

[hyperventilating]

[dispatcher 4] Did you know her?

[Susan] Yes.

She’s come after me several times because of her children, her children keep trespassing over here.

They’re bothering me and bothering me.

They won’t fucking stop.

[dispatcher 4] Do you see the male subject, or you just see the female?

[Susan] Her boys were here earlier.

They keep leaving their garbage all around the house.

And then I told them to take the crap away, get the fuck outta here.

[woman] Wake up. Hey, wake up.

Wake up, wake up, wake up.

Come on, come on. Come on.

[woman] Wake up. Hey, wake up.

[man] Please!

[woman] What’s going on?

[man] Please hurry and get here.

[man 14] Right here!

Right here! Right here!

[dispatcher 4] And where…

[man 14] Right here! Right here!

[man] She’s on the ground.

[officer on radio] Code one, Marion Primary.

[woman] Hold on.

[woman] Oh my God!

She got pulse. She said she’s got pulse.

Very faint. Very faint.

[woman] This lady’s been planning to do this for the longest time, bro!

[paramedic] No exit.

[woman] Baby, wake up!

[paramedic] Still someone with a gun.

[frenzied crosstalk]

[officer] I have one down.

I have one elderly female barricaded in the house with a single zero.

[woman] Wake up! Baby, wake up!

I’m up front. I’m up front.

Sheriff’s office!

Come outside with your hands up!

This is the Marion County Sheriff’s Office!

Come outside with your hands up!

[door unlocks]

Show me your hands.

Show me your hands. Turn around.

Turn around. Where’s your gun at?

[Susan] It’s in my bedroom.

I don’t know what’s going on.

You’ll be detained for now.

[officer 2] Is there anybody else in the house?

[Susan] Can I just get…

[officer] No. Not right now.

You’re not under arrest.

You’re being detained.

[officer] Come over here.

I’d like him to close the door.

I have two cats inside.

Female’s detained. I need medics.

[voice on radio] Suspect’s detained.

[siren sounds]

Hey, med bag, get my med bag.

Start giving first aid.

[people shouting]

[Izzy wails] Mom!

[officer] She needs medical aid.

Over there.

It should be in the big black thing.

[Izzy] I said I gave my iPad to her…

[officer] If y’all were here when it happened, just stand right here so I know who was out here when it happened.

[Izzy] She tried to throw skates at me.

All right, bud. Give me a minute.

Just hang out by my car, okay?

[siren sounds]

[officer] Where’s she shot at?

[woman] Right side of the chest.

[radio] Have we been advised if there’s anybody else in the house?

[officer] We have a critical here, we were advised…

[officer] She’s got a gunshot wound to her right shoulder area.

You ready?

Marion County Sheriff’s Office!

If you’re inside, make it known now!

All right, we got three open doors.

I’m going to clear the bathroom first.

[woman] I have her kids.

[woman] Why would you shoot her?

Hey, bitch! Hello?

Why would you shoot her?

[Susan] Because she was threatening me.

Clear in here.

Clear in here.

Safety sweep.

[officer] Back in the street.

Everybody off the property, onto the roadway.

[shouting]

[officer] Hey, there’s a little boy by my car.

He’s the one that was the primary witness.

Okay.

[woman] She should have been in jail.

[woman 2] She should have.

[woman 3] Get yo ass in this house now. Let’s go.

Did you see him?

I didn’t see him.

There’s a little Black male.

His mom is the one that got shot.

I think he’s over there.

Double check on that.

This is supposed to be one of the kids that saw it?

[woman] I didn’t see it, but I have her kids.

Yeah.

Where’s Israel?

Izzy, come here, baby.

[female officer] Hi, Izzy.

Come here, buddy.

[Isaac] Is she all right?

Is she all right?

[female officer] They’re doing everything they can.

[Izzy] Is she moving?

Is she moving?

[female officer] Yes, she’s moving.

I want to see.

[female officer]

She’s going to the hospital.

So that way they can take better care of her than what I can do here, okay?

At the hospital, they have all the fancy machines and equipment that we don’t get in the field.

All right? So you can’t see her right now, but as soon as we can, we’ll try to make that happen, okay?

[crying]

You’re being so strong.

Very proud of you.

So can you tell me what happened?

So I was going to get my tablet from over there because we was playing a game.

She had my tablet.

I said, “Put down my tablet.”

[female officer] The lady in apartment three?

Yeah, she put it down and then tried to throw the roller skates at me and then I got my brother.

He said, “Throw the stuff at me, throw the stuff at me.”

And then she called both of us a jack A-word.

And so I got my mother, she kept on banging on the door, she shot her.

[female officer] All right. Are you hurt?

No. But my heart is broken.

[female officer] I know.

I know, sweetheart.

It’s okay, baby.

[female officer] It’s going to be okay.

She’s going to be okay.

[on phone] Hey, this is Deputy Stringer of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Is there any way you can come over here to your ex’s house with your children?

‘Cause they need somebody right now.

[boy] Izzy, you good?

[boy crying]

[woman] It’s okay, honey.

[boy sobbing]

Hey, okay.

It’s okay. It’s all right.

Daddy’s here.

All right. Come here, Afrika.

It’s okay.

The victim’s children.

Where’s Titus?

[officer] I haven’t got any of that.

I was getting Afrika’s information.

Hey, sir. I just need to get your information and stuff real quick, okay?

[shouts in anguish]

Did y’all arrest the lady?

She was arrested. Yes, sir.

[whispering]

I’m gonna tell them. I’ll tell them.

How are you going to tell that lady, her mom?

[woman] I don’t know.

We’ll just take it one step at a time.

You guys are all first, then we’ll…

[woman] That’s Israel.

Here is, uh, Izzy.

Are you taking me?

I’m going to take you somewhere.

Come on, Isaac.

[woman] I’m sorry.

[officer] Y’all got the baby.

[woman] Yeah, the baby. He is right here.

Just hold him one second.

Okay. All right.

[father] Today has been a very bad day.

Yes, something bad has happened.

And all y’all seen it.

Y’all understand it.

You all experienced it, right?

Okay. Y’all love me.

Okay. We all love Mom.

All right.

Well, I got some bad news to tell you.

Mom’s not coming back anymore.

Come. Uh-uh. Come, come, come.

No, no, no. Come here.

[children crying] Come over here. Listen to me.

No, no. I know.

Okay. It’s okay. I know.

It’s okay. I know. I’m sorry to tell you.

I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

[children wailing]

[Izzy] She can’t go!

It’s all right.

You guys going to be okay.

It’s all right.

You guys are all right.

[neighbors crying]

[woman] Israel, I love you.

I love you, baby.

I’m so sorry, baby.

I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, baby.

Come here, Izzy.

I love you. I’m sorry, my man.

[woman crying on phone]

Why?

[woman on phone] Oh my God.

[hyperventilating]

It’s her mom.

Just relax, Pam.

At this point, there’s nothing we can do.

[mother crying]

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

She didn’t make it.

Shut the fuck up.

[woman] Hold on.

She didn’t make it.

Kingston, come here. She didn’t make it.

It’s okay, baby.

I’m sorry, Isaac.

Football. That’s what they play over there. Football.

[somber music]

I’m sorry. I’m sitting here ’cause I was freezing.

Oh, it is chilly in here, isn’t it?

Susan?

Yes.

I’m Detective Stith.

This is Detective Peterson.

I’m trying to clarify all the events that happened tonight and to try to, because really I only have, you know, statements from people that were out there.

And I would like to get your side of things and try to understand what exactly happened tonight, or last night now, I guess it is.

Good gravy.

Basically, the neighbors were out there screaming, yelling.

The kids were running back and forth.

I had a miserable headache.

Went inside, laid down, it finally got quiet.

I came outside and the three boys were there.

I went, “Guys, you’re trespassing, come on, outta here.”

And they were like, “I’m going to tell my mom,” you know.

Go tell your mom.

I don’t care, you know?

Have you had problems with them before?

Oh my God, yes.

So, they go home, and then all of a sudden, she comes out, and she is banging on my door like, go away.

I’m not dealing with you tonight.

And then she started banging so hard, everything started shaking.

I’m like, “You really need to leave.”

And she’s, “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

And she’s just banging away, banging away, you know, and like …

And since she has actually harmed me.

It just keeps gettin’ worse and worse.

I don’t know what to do with her.

She banged so hard, it looked like my door is going to fly off.

And that’s, I just, I panicked, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, she’s really going to kill me this time,” you know?

And so… I don’t even actually remember picking up the gun.

I just remember shooting.

How long do you think she was hitting the door?

I don’t know. I can’t even speculate ’cause it could’ve been seconds.

It could have been… You know, when you get that fear response and you know…

She banged on it. I was in the bathroom, came out of the bathroom, and she was still banging on it.

So, I don’t know, maybe a minute or two.

And you didn’t try to call 911 back at that time?

My phone wasn’t there.

I didn’t know where I put my phone.

You don’t remember where you put your phone?

No. I was like, crap, I can’t find my phone.

Okay. So, but you had already contacted 911.

Did they advise you that someone was responding?

An officer was responding?

Yes. They said someone was coming.

They said, “Lock the doors.

Don’t go outside.”

I was like, okay, you know, usual.

Okay. What was the deal with the roller skates?

Because we talked to a lot of people who were outside and witnessed some of this.

Oh, they keep leaving all their toys around.

The other day, I almost killed myself going out.

I had an early morning doctor’s appointment and I didn’t see the roller skate.

And I almost killed myself and I’m like, guys, you know, stop already.

This is not your garbage yard, you know, and the kid’s got his roller skates there.

And I’m like, really, take your roller skates.

And I threw the roller skates like, go fetch ’em.

You know, just, enough, because…

Did you throw it at them?

Oh God, no.

Okay.

Now what is the thing about the umbrella?

You had an umbrella?

I thought it was raining before and I walked out.

And it wasn’t raining.

I’m like, okay, so…

Okay. And you, like, swung it at them or something, or one of them?

It wasn’t even close.

I was still inside the vestibule.

How can we explain that then?

With people saying, like, multiple people that weren’t like talking to each other, that if they were saying that that’s what they saw.

I don’t know.

Maybe I did step out, and I’m like, guys, go away, go away.

But I would never touch ’em.

Okay.

Like, swat at them with it, but not…

Exactly. If I did, it was probably because I was just so, you know, like, come on!

But I know if… if you did, but is that what happened?

I mean, we’ve got to kind of get specific about this.

Because it’s a big deal.

I understand.

Someone’s dead.

Jesus Christ.

So that’s why I say it’s important to be specific and honest about, about, about everything.

As far as our training, when we have to go through making a judgment decision where we have to… might have to pull the trigger.

We have to know what we’re firing at is a deadly threat or what we recognize as a deadly threat.

So, my question is, how do you know what you’re firing at when you’re firing through a door that you can’t see through, when you don’t know if there’s also a child outside standing there?

Or, I mean, basically, I’m asking you, what were you aiming at and what were you intending to do when you fired that gun?

I was just fearful of my life.

I was just like, go away, go away.

That’s all I could think of, was just get out of the situation, you know, just go away already.

Is there anything else that you can think of that I didn’t ask or that might be helpful for figuring this all out?

I’ve never been in this situation before.

This is all new, and it’s… it’s killing me.

Okay. All right, Susan, give me just a minute.

And I’ll be right with you, okay?

[door closes]

[door opens]

Susan.

All right, I talked to the State Attorney, the prosecutor for the State Attorney’s office.

They are along the same lines of what we’re thinking.

We’re going to continue the investigation.

I don’t think it’s safe for you to go back to that house.

I don’t think so either.

But what we can do is provide you with a ride back there.

You’re going to gather some of your things and go to a hotel.

Is that correct?

Yes.

Thank you.

[reporter] Several days after the mother was shot and killed in front of her young children, her family is demanding the shooter be arrested and charged.

This, while the sheriff says he’s dedicated his best detectives to the case, adding he, too, would be upset if someone threw an object at or towards his kids.

Somebody threw something at my child, I’d be pissed off.

[reporter] Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, saying his detectives are still in the early stages of conducting interviews.

[detective 1] Are you aware that someone was shot?

[woman 1] Yeah, yeah. And that…

I never expected that but it doesn’t surprise me because she was a live wire.

Who is that?

Susan.

[woman 2] The lady that was shot, was she a Black lady?

She lived right across the street.

She was always very nice to me.

Is she okay?

Or did she pass?

[detective 1] I can’t really say.

[woman 2] I could tell by your eyes.

And she’s got little kids.

[woman 3] Knowing that your friend is gone for life.

Knowing her babies won’t kiss her at night, that hurts.

Oldest two boys, they feel guilty.

I mean, one stated that if he had never left his tablet behind, that his mother would still be here.

First oldest feels guilty because he wasn’t able to perform CPR on his mom.

You know, no child should feel like, you know, I couldn’t save someone, let alone their mom.

[Pamela] I’m just hurt and, like, almost feeling a little guilt.

And I’m telling her to just leave it alone when it’s just festering and building with this woman or giving her more time and, you know, opportunity to do what she did.

[reporter] Family members say Owens’ neighbor who fired the gun should be arrested for murder.

As a mother, the protector of her children, she wanted to know why this happened.

[detective] All right, Susan, I put all those items in your purse, okay?

Okay.

They’re on the hood of the car.

Okay.

Again, we’re just trying to make sure you’re safe and everything.

Understood.

But just please call…

I’m going to give you a key to my house.

And it’s a spare that I have.

Will you please lock both top and bottom, all right?

[woman] No justice…

[crowd] No peace!

[chanting continues]

A mother has lost her life for being a mother.

Where is the justice in that?

[crowd chanting] No peace!

[man] Nothing changes!

[reporter] Marion County has become a national focus tonight after the shooting of a Black woman by her white neighbor last Friday.

Many people today protested the lack of an arrest in the shooting of Ajike Owens.

[somber music]

[child] Everybody should watch out for glass.

It’s dangerous in Aunt Susie’s house.

Yeah, this doesn’t mean they get to break her shit.

[female officer] No, but I also can’t prove who did it.

Which is kind of the problem.

Sorry. One cat to go and then I’m done.

Guns are very dangerous.

[woman] Well, yeah, sadly, they made quite a mess.

And I…

I cleaned it up the best I could.

[cat meowing]

Sorry. I just need to get him and we can leave.

[Susan] Thank you so much for doing this.

[female officer] Yeah. Of course.

[tense music]

[female officer] Y’all drive safe.

[crowd chanting] Justice for AJ!

Justice for AJ!

Justice for her children!

Justice for her community!

[reporter] Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods has said he cannot make an arrest while the sheriff’s department investigates whether this meets the criteria of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.

Florida has a Stand Your Ground law that permits the use of deadly force if there is a presumption of fear.

[Pamela] When is it okay in America to shoot someone behind a locked door?

We need answers. We need an arrest.

There’s evidence that’s being gathered.

There are things being looked at.

There are warrants being executed.

[woman] She’s supposed to be in jail.

It’s important to wait for the evidence to come back.

We understand that process, but why isn’t she in jail while this process…

Because if it was us, we would be in jail while y’all doing this process.

They got to my dishes. Nice.

[woman] They’re screaming over there.

[male officer] I know. I can hear ’em.

[woman] Treat that little boy the way you treat our kids.

I’m going to go talk to them.

Can y’all stay over there?

[people shouting]

Just don’t talk to them.

I know you’re upset, okay?

Everybody’s upset.

She’s going to end up in jail, so it don’t matter, but everybody’s upset.

Listen, I’m going to be honest.

She shouldn’t even be in the street.

She murdered this lady.

Okay, listen. I’ll be honest with you.

I’m here because she called me up.

Because she knows better than to be out here alone.

That’s why she gots people with her.

Because she knows.

Okay, but listen. Listen to me.

See what happened to the lady house?

Just make my life a little bit easier, okay?

Your life easier?

I’m not…

Make your life easier?

You fucking kidding me?

I’m not here to start anything with you, or to start anything with her.

Okay? You guys don’t need to be arguing in the street.

[woman shouting] She ain’t gonna come to the street!

Sat in her fucking house, didn’t even open the door and shot through it!

[continues shouting]

You’re disgusting!

[male officer] You up?

[female officer] Yeah, I am.

Mine’s turned off, I should probably turn it on.

[male officer] They were here earlier.

[man shouting]

[woman] Dumb fucking bitch!

Look at that bitch.

[woman] She gets to fucking…

It’s just as cold in here.

All right. Give us just a couple minutes.

Okay.

[recording] Detective Ryan Stith, the date is Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 8:31 p.m.

I’m gonna attempt an interview at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Central Operations Complex with Susan Lorincz.

[detective 1] Okey do key.

Susan, I appreciate you coming back in and talking with us.

Some of the things, like I said, we’re just trying to clarify.

That’s fine.

Has anything like this ever happened to you before, where someone was trying to break into the house and hurt you or something?

No, not like this.

No, nothing like that.

Nothing like that’s ever happened to you before.

I just wanted to see if there was a similar experience.

We talked about unreported sexual abuse.

We talked about domestic violence.

We talked about whenever you were robbed once of something by some men.

But then we’re talking about what happened there today.

And this woman, that… that she passed away.

You said that she had… you guys had yelled at each other three or four times in about a year and a half to two years.

Is that right?

Yes.

Is there any reason why anybody would have any video or anything like that of you saying, like, the N-word?

Or is there any reason why someone would have that?

I have no idea.

And if I did let it go, I’m sorry.

I mean, it could have slipped out.

What… be honest. What context would it slip out, you think?

I mean, what would happen for you to say something like that?

Um, if they were being extraordinarily rude, or if they were just…

I was always taught the N-word meant that you were just being unlawful, you know, dirty.

I don’t know, generally not being pleasant.

When Ajike was at the door, how many times did she…

Was it just like, one, or was it several…

No, it was bang, bang, bang.

Okay. All right. And then you said…

You said you asked her, who’s there?

Okay. And what was said then?

Good gravy, I think she said, “Why do you speak to my children this way?”

And I said, “Listen, I’m not going to speak to you, go away.”

You know, if she had a problem, she should have called you guys.

Honestly, I mean, if she really thought there was something seriously wrong, I don’t understand why she just came over and just started pounding on my door and, you know, screaming and yelling.

And then what happened, after you said to go away?

Go away, and then it got quiet for a bit.

And then she started really banging, you know, just pounding on that door.

She was relentless.

How long is a bit, would you say?

Like, five or ten seconds or two minutes?

It was a… it was an extended period of time.

Probably 20 to 30 seconds, easily.

Okay.

All right. And then when it became silent, at that first round of beating on your door, where did, where were you at then?

Did you go…

I went to wash my hands, honestly.

Because I didn’t know who was at the door and I wanted to know.

And then I was…

Okay.

So I went back and washed my hands.

Okay.

So that’s during the time where it was kind of quiet, you thought that maybe she went away.

Okay.

You were washing your hands in the bathroom, and then the pounding and the yelling started again, and you went to the kitchen, what were you doing in the kitchen?

I was looking for my phone.

I put my phone down somewhere, and I started panicking.

I started searching for the phone, and then she just kept banging and banging.

“I’m gonna kill you.”

You know, “Get out of here!”

You know, like… I have nowhere to go.

I mean, I was in the kitchen, there was the sliders, and the sliders are always locked and just that one door.

So there’s no escape. I couldn’t leave.

I couldn’t get out of there.

I was like, Jesus Christ.

And she was pounding so hard, the mirror on my wall was shaking.

Okay, when she started pounding on the door again and saying all that stuff to the point where you fired the gun, how long do you think that that lasted?

Two to five minutes.

Two to five minutes.

Everything’s kind of… it was a while.

I mean, it was a while.

I kept thinking, okay, you guys are going to show up, you know, because I called earlier and no one was coming.

No one was coming. I’m like, shit.

Couldn’t find my phone.

And she was just banging and banging, screaming at me.

Telling me, “I’m gonna kill you.”

I’m like, she’s really going to kill me this time. That’s all I kept thinking, she’s literally going to come in this house and kill me.

Let me ask you this.

Maybe this can kind of help us get a better time frame.

From the time that you called 911, “These kids are on my property again.

They are yelling.” You know…

What happened that first 911 call, that time that you hung up with 911?

How long before she showed up and she was pounding on the door after you hung up?

Ten minutes.

Ten minutes? Okay.

So about ten minutes after you disconnected, and they said, “Hey, we have deputies on the way…”

Ten minutes after that is when she started pounding on your door.

If we were to look through everything in your phone, or your home desktop computer, is there anything, kind of research on your internet history that would show that you’ve done research on like self-defense?

Ever heard the term Stand Your Ground?

Yes.

Have you ever done any kind of research on that?

Yes, when it was mentioned on…

Some guy shot someone at a convenience store, and they said Stand Your Ground laws.

Was that like a Florida situation?

Yes.

‘Cause I know every state has kind of different laws.

I think it was Florida.

Okay.

And when was that?

God, years ago.

That was years ago?

Yeah, that was years ago.

So, nothing recent that would be on like your internet browser history?

I looked at it today.

You looked at it today?

‘Cause that’s when I was on Facebook.

Just some things that, they had it up on Facebook.

Susan, I think you know the reason why I’m asking that question.

You’re smart, okay?

And the reason is…

Oh, hell no.

No, absolutely.

I know what you’re thinking.

Did I look up the laws so I could do something?

No. Absolutely not.

This is not a situation where you set something up because you were tired of this person?

You were tired of the situation that they had put you in.

We kind of went through your first interview, and in that first interview, you had even said to the kids, “You know what? Go get your mom.”

No, I didn’t.

You said something along the lines of when they said, “I’m going to go get my mom…”

You said, “Go get her.”

“Go get her.”

Which is fine.

I’d want to talk to an adult too.

I don’t want to talk to a kid.

I don’t remember saying that.

So when someone calls 911, as soon as that call goes to our communication center, it logs it.

Gives us a time stamp.

Hour, minute, second from the very first time that call was received to the time it’s disconnected, okay?

And that’s for every single time someone calls.

So the first time when you called 911 talking about the boys out there trespassing and things of that…

So, that call started at 8:54 p.m.

Mmhm.

Does that sound about right?

Yes. I really wasn’t looking at the clock.

I just remember calling.

That’s what time it says on our call center.

And the call lasted for five minutes and it disconnected at 8:59.

Deputies were on the way. Okay.

Now, you estimated that it was approximately ten minutes after you disconnected until AJ started pounding on your door.

Is that correct? Is that right? Okay.

So, the second 911 call where you called, “Lady was banging on my door.”

“I shot her through the door.”

That call came into our call center.

It was received at 9:01, which is two minutes after you hung up with the communication center the first time.

So that’s two minutes that all these things that you say occurred happened at your front door.

From pounding and pounding and pounding, “I’m going to kill you,” all these things, within two minutes, she showed up at your front door, and did all these things to the time that you pulled the trigger, went and found your phone and then called 911.

So… and that’s why I’m trying to get…

To me, it seemed like that amount of time.

That’s why I thought it was that amount of time.

Well, so clearly, we’ve established that that was not true, that that’s not the case.

But that’s what you felt it was.

So you also told me that that’s what you heard, that she was going to kill you.

Is it possible that she did not say that, and that’s what you heard or you believe, just like you believed there was ten minutes between those calls?

I just thought she said, “I’m going to kill you.”

Are you the Susan that has done research on Stand Your Ground and has planned for this to happen, was planning for this to happen?

There’s a spectrum here.

Is this the Susan over here?

And then there’s also… could be a Susan over here that was, “I have a gun in the house, I’m scared, someone is knocking on the door, I’d like them to go away.”

“I’m just going to… Oh, I picked up the gun and I accidentally shot the gun.”

There’s a Susan somewhere in the world like that.

You’ve somehow found a spot in the middle where you’re trying to explain this, but it doesn’t actually make any sense.

So this is your opportunity to actually tell us that something that does make sense.

I’m not going to hold it against you.

I’m not going to get mad.

But whenever AJ was coming over that evening…

What… what happened? What happened?

Bring me to that moment when you had the gun in your hand.

What were you thinking?

All I wanted her… was to go away.

I just, you know, I felt she was gonna come through that door and kill me.

I’m sorry. That’s what I felt.

I just felt she was going to come through the door and kill me.

It was a tremendous fear.

Do you feel bad for what happened?

Oh, Christ, yes.

Let me ask you this.

You said that you went on Facebook today.

I can only imagine that at some point you may have seen some of the news dealing with this case and this story.

Yes.

Okay. What kind of stuff did you see?

I threw a tablet at the child.

I said all kinds of things that I never said.

You know what I saw?

I saw four kids that no longer have a mother.

And… I’m not taking away how you were treated.

But those are children nonetheless, right?

And now they don’t have a mother to go home to.

And I think you know what you did was wrong.

I think you know that there were already deputies on the way.

But there were times I called and deputies never showed up.

I understand. It’s been two minutes, so…

To me, it wasn’t two minutes.

To me, it was much longer.

In my mind, it just felt like…

But there’s only one reality where time exists, and I understand perception of time can be different for different people.

But in the reality of things, you had just disconnected.

Within two minutes, a shot was fired through that door.

There’s no way to justify that in my mind.

I don’t think in Detective Pinder’s mind and clearly in other people’s minds that we discussed this case with, the State Attorney, our legal counsel, and things like that.

So, I mean…

At this point, we’ve discussed it with the state and they are on the same terms as far as charging you with manslaughter.

Okay?

Okay.

I don’t know what to say, just… I was in fear for my life.

I mean, honest to God, I just feared she was going to come through that door.

I’m sorry. That’s how I felt.

I can’t change the way I felt.

I mean, it was sheer terror on my part.

I mean, honest to God, I was like, I was shaking.

So, one of the things I want to ask, because at the point where I did let you know and informed you, you know, what…

What had ultimately happened to AJ after that shooting, you know, that she had passed away.

And obviously, she has four kids.

And, you know, I was observing the interviews that were conducted with them and the emotions that they were going through.

And you shared some of those same emotions at points through the conversations that we had.

And I just want to, like, obviously, I can’t let you talk to them or give a message to them, like, face-to-face.

But I would like, it’s up to you if you would like to write them a letter or something to kind of, you know, whatever’s on your mind or in your heart.

You don’t have to.

We’re just going to leave a notepad and a pen in the room.

Obviously, we have some paperwork to do, so we’re going to have to step out for, to do that, and obviously talk to our boss.

I offer it to everybody, that we can’t let them talk to.

So it’s just something we do.

I understand.

So, if you’d like to do that.

We’re going to get that paperwork going like he said.

But that’s where the state’s at right now, that’s where we’re at.

I’ll talk to you a little bit more about that in just a minute.

But if you’d like to write on something, it’s right there, okay?

All right, Susan. All right, we’re going to have you go with this deputy here.

No.

I’m sorry?

No.

No, what?

I can’t.

What’s wrong? What’s goin’ on?

I just can’t. I’m sorry. I can’t do this.

I mean, we’re, unfortunately, we’re to that point where that’s what’s going to happen.

Obviously, this isn’t a conviction.

This is you being charged, and then you’re going to have your day in court to present your side of the story.

Okay, so you’re going to go with this deputy.

No, I’m not.

You’re going to be booked in.

No, I’m not.

And fingerprinted.

No.

They’re going to take your pictures and then you will have an arraignment in the morning.

I’m not going. I’m sorry.

There’s a phone down there.

You’ll be able to call whoever you need to call.

Right there in booking.

I’m not going.

But, um… Susan, you… we are going.

There’s no changing that now.

You’re under arrest.

In fact, we can probably go ahead and put handcuffs on her.

Let’s get you handcuffed.

Stand up.

No. Don’t touch me.

Stand up, Susan.

No. No. Sorry, I can’t.

It can go one of two ways. It can go an easy way or a really hard way.

I’m sorry.

We don’t want it to go the hard way.

I’m so sorry.

Susan, put yourself in our position.

There’s no choice in this.

You’re going over there.

I’m sorry. I can’t do this.

Susan, you understand that from the point of the story that you’ve given us, that by refusing and resisting, that it’s making you look bad, okay?

I’m sorry. I don’t feel good.

I can’t do this.

Okay, well, they have medical staff over there.

So they can assist you.

There is a nurse right in the front.

You give them the prescription medications that you’re taking, all of that, they will assist you in making sure that you get the care you need.

No, I can’t do this.

We’re going over there, okay?

You’re going to go over there.

I just can’t do this.

Okay, well…

Come on, Susan, stand up.

We don’t have time to debate.

I can’t do this.

Okay, but you understand that you’re under arrest and you’re going to be taken to the jail one way or another, okay?

I don’t care.

Susan.

I just can’t do this. I’m sorry.

What you’re saying and doing right now is not reasonable.

I know it’s not.

There’s been people…

I just can’t do this.

When you say you know it’s not reasonable, that doesn’t make sense to me.

I understand.

I just can’t do this. I’m sorry.

Okay, then this is why we’re in this position here, Susan, is because the decisions you make are not reasonable.

Just like what we’re experiencing right now.

I just can’t do this. I can’t do this.

I’ve had people sit in this chair that have done things, and they get up, they walk out on their own accord.

They’ve done some really bad things.

Okay? You’re not the only person, but I need you to…

I just feel horrible. I can’t do this.

Okay. Well, we’re going to go to the jail.

There’s no changing this.

There’s no stopping it.

I don’t care. Kill me.

We’re not going to kill anybody.

We’re going to take you to the jail.

We’d rather you walk on your own, we rather you just walk down there.

It’d be so much better for everybody if we could just walk down there.

Can you just stand up for me?

No.

So what, do you plan on sitting here the rest of the night?

I don’t know what I’m going to do.

Probably going to die of a heart attack.

Like I said, they have medical staff.

We want to be able to get you over there.

The quicker we get you over there, the quicker someone over there that’s in medical can see you.

I just can’t do this.

Susan, this is what’s going to happen.

We’re going to put you in handcuffs.

And if we have to forcefully bring you out there, that’s what we have to do, because we’re obligated to take you to the jail now, okay?

Thank you for standing up.

I’m sorry, I just…

I understand that.

So put your hands behind your back for me.

Thank you, Susan.

I didn’t do this on purpose.

This wasn’t a purposeful act.

I did not premeditate it.

I didn’t do anything like that.

This is ridiculous.

We’re going to go out this way…

[ominous music]

“I am so sorry for your loss.

I never meant to kill your mother.”

“I was terrified your mom was going to kill me.”

“I shot…

Out of fear.”

This is Sheriff Woods.

And although I haven’t spoke to y’all directly, I have made y’all a promise.

And I’m here to make the phone call that we have arrested, the lady, the shooter.

She is in custody.

[gospel singing] [Pamela] I am Ajike’s mother.

You may look at her and say she didn’t have much.

She had it all.

She had love. She had compassion.

She had four beautiful children.

[Reverend Al Sharpton]

Don’t grow up feelin’ guilty.

Don’t say Mama wouldn’t have died if it wasn’t for me, no.

Mama chose to stand up for you.

Because Mama knew if she allowed people to degrade you and she’d not stand up for you, that you’d grow up with a feeling that you were something that could be degraded.

She chose you over her.

[crowd claps]

[Sharpton] That’s what mothers do.

I want you to go and be everything she wanted you to be.

[Izzy] The night that it happened, I fell asleep in my auntie’s car.

And when I was dreaming, she appeared as an angel.

[music fades]

[judge] Members of the jury, you have been selected and sworn as a jury to try the case The State of Florida versus Susan Louise Lorincz.

Susan Lorincz is charged with manslaughter by use of a firearm.

[male lawyer] Did you ever see Isaac and Izzy’s mom reach for the door handle?

[child] No.

Did you ever hear Isaac and Izzy’s mom say, “I’m going to kill you”?

[child] No.

[male lawyer] At any time, did you ever hear Isaac and Izzy’s mom say, “I’m going to kill you”?

No, sir.

[female lawyer] There have been shootings in that neighborhood before?

[male lawyer 2] Objection. Irrelevance.

Yes.

[judge] Sustained.

It’s like a plastic-looking sign, it’s not really cardboard, that you buy at the store with a metal stake.

[female lawyer] And Miss Owens told you that she said to Susan on that night, “The next time you walk up on my kids, “you’re going to have to take it up with me,” right?

Correct.

[male lawyer 1] Have you ever personally told any of those children they weren’t allowed to do that?

[landlord] I have not.

And why wouldn’t you be able to do that?

It’s not my property.

Okay.

[male lawyer 2] The photograph 12 Is just a closeup of those two skates.

[woman] Yes, it is.

[Susan on recording]

I don’t know where she is.

I’m still in my house.

I didn’t open my door to her.

[Susan sobbing on recording]

[officer] When I arrived on scene, it was complete chaos.

I saw the victim laying on the ground, and several people were stating that she was shot.

[male lawyer 2] Did you look to see if there was any damage to the exterior of the door itself besides the bullet hole?

[woman] I did not see anything of significance.

[lawyer] Did you locate anything of significance in that trash can underneath the marker number three?

[woman] There were two firearms.

This is the firearm.

[detective 1] If the evidence shows something different than what you’re saying, it doesn’t look good.

[male lawyer 2] Did you force her or threaten her in any way to get her to talk to you the second time on June 6th?

No, sir.

[detective 1] Which is two minutes after you hung up with the communication center the first time.

So that’s two minutes that all these things that you say occurred happened at your front door.

[male lawyer 2] This case basically requires you as a jury to answer one question.

Was it reasonable to shoot through a closed, locked, deadbolted metal door at someone who was banging and yelling on the other side?

That’s the ultimate question in this case.

[female lawyer] If you are anywhere along this chart other than the red part at the bottom, you have to find Susan Lorincz not guilty.

[judge] I’m gonna have the clerk read the verdict.

[clerk] The verdict as in count one.

We the jury find as to count one of the charge the defendant is guilty of manslaughter.

Did the state prove beyond a reasonable doubt that during the commission of the offense, the defendant personally used a firearm?

Yes. So say we all, dated the 16th day of August, 2024.

[judge] Miss Lorincz, the jury has found you guilty of manslaughter with a firearm.

You’re going to be held in custody at the Marion County jail without bond.

Okay? Thank you and good luck to you.

[clerk] Thank you, Judge.

May we be excused?

[judge] Yes, ma’am.

Thank you.

[somber music]

[Pamela] My baby! Thank you, Jesus!