Prosecutors said there was “insufficient evidence” to press charges Susan Lorincz with murder in the fatal shooting Ajike “AJ” Owens, WESH report.
The news was revealed Monday after the State Attorney William Gladson announced the formal filing of manslaughter charges against Lorincz.
RELATED: UPDATE: Susan Lorincz, 58, Officially Charged With Manslaughter In Shooting Deadly Ajike Owens, 35
State Attorney Says There Is Not Enough Evidence to Charge Susan Lorincz with Murder
The news comes despite a push from the Owens family to elevate the original manslaughter charge to second-degree murder. Bang said there was “insufficient evidence” to prove Lorincz had “a depraved mind”.
According to the outlet, doing so is necessary to establish second-degree murder.
“To prove second-degree murder, the State must prove beyond and beyond all reasonable doubt the existence of a depraved mind towards the victim at the time of murder. The corrupt mind requires evidence of hatred, aversion, malice or malice towards the victim at the time of the murder. Gladson said the defendant’s actions in this case were reprehensible, there was not enough evidence to prove this specific and necessary element was second-degree murder.
In addition, the prosecutor continued: “I know the family and some members of the community want the accused to be charged with second-degree murder. It is my duty as State Counsel to comply with the law in each case that I prosecute.”
Lorincz was released on $154k bail on Monday but remains jailed, still facing up to 30 years in prison
The 58-year-old is accused of shooting Owens through an unopened door in Ocala, Florida. Owens, 35, is believed to have been killed in front of his children on June 2.
Lorincz still faces up to 30 years in prison, according to Fox 35 Orlando. However, she was issued a $154,000 bond on Monday.
The suspect allegedly told the judge she only had $1,700 and remained incarcerated at the Marion County Jail since this article was published.
Lorincz has been charged with manslaughter with a gun and assault, according to authorities.
The shooting is believed to have stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Lorincz and Owens, who are neighbours. On the day of the shooting, Lorincz allegedly threw an object at Owens’ children, causing a confrontation that eventually led to Owens’ death.
Ajike Owens’ children were playing in a field near an apartment complex when a white woman shouted racist slurs at them and asked to leave her property.
The kids left behind an iPad that she stole. When one of the kids came back to get it, she threw it at him and hit… pic.twitter.com/ckVMnSrP34
– chris evans (@notcapnamerica) June 5, 2023
Attack and battery charges are also not paid
However, the object did not hit the children, which is necessary to establish a battery charge.
Owens’ children, one of whom witnessed the deadly shooting, testified that they were never afraid, which also needs to be established for additional assault charges.
“Accordingly, the legal requirements to determine assault and assault cannot be met and such charges cannot be filed,” the state attorney said in the statement. “The misdemeanor charge of negligence was not filed because there is no evidence that the defendant knew the child was with his mother when she shot the victim in this case.”
This is an evolving story. Be sure to sign up with Shade room for more updates as they arrive.
