Florida woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting black neighbor

A white woman in Florida on Monday was sentenced to 25 years in prison, after she fatally shot her black neighbor through a locked door last year.

An all-white jury convicted 60-year-old Susan Lorincz of the manslaughter charge in August, despite her claims that the single shot was fired in self defense. The shooting was the culmination of an ongoing conflict between the two women over 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Owens' children playing outside in a grassy area near both houses.

Marion County Circuit Court Judge Robert Hodges said in his ruling that Lorincz caused "significant harm" on Owens and her family, and could not sentence her to a lower sentence than the 11.5-year minimum, despite urging from Lorincz' defense attorneys, who pointed to her history with a mental disorder and history of sexual abuse as a child.

"I find that the shooting was completely unnecessary," the judge said, according to NBC News. "In this case, Ms. Lorincz was behind the door. The door was locked."

Lorincz faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, but was sentenced to 25 because she had no previous record. 

"She’s a victim of child sex abuse, which was a significant mitigating factor, and she has no criminal record, which is also a significant factor," Hodges said. "However, we also have a tremendous harm inflicted upon this family and the victim's family."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.