The story at the heart of Netflix’s new documentary, “The Perfect Neighbor,” is one that has taken the internet by storm.
The film, which is comprised of the bodycam footage of responding officers in Marion County, Florida, shows the real-time incidents that lead up to the death of 35-year-old Ajike “A.J.” Owens.
Since its premiere on the streaming platform on Oct. 17, the film ranked as the top movie being watched on the app and hit 16.7 million views in its first three days. Users on TikTok and other short-form video platforms have made hundreds of viral videos with thousands of commenters weighing in on the devastating shooting.
What Happened?
Owens, a mother-of-four, was shot and killed by her neighbor Susan Lorincz, 58, after multiple disputes over neighborhood kids who were regularly playing in a vacant lot adjacent to Lorincz’s home. The owner of the lot — another neighbor — allowed the children to play there, much to Lorincz’s chagrin, resulting in numerous 911 calls and dozens of police-documented incidents.
“I’m like the perfect neighbor,” Lorincz can be heard telling police early in the film. “You barely ever see me.”
On June 2, 2023, Lorincz — who claimed to have been fed up with the repeated behavior from the children, which she described as threatening and disruptive — was involved in a conflict with Owens’ 9-year-old son over a tablet that was left in a yard. In the incident, the boy and numerous witnesses later tell police that Lorincz threw a roller skate at the child and told him to bring his mother.
When Owens later went to Lorincz’s home to confront her, the 58-year-old shot a single bullet through the locked front door, fatally hitting the mother in the upper chest. Lorincz claimed that she panicked at the time of the shooting. She described Owens as pounding on her door, yelling, and causing her to fear for her life.
In a letter she wrote to Owens’ four children, Lorincz tells them she thought their mother was going to kill her. The shooting was initially investigated under Florida’s “stand your ground” law.
In 2023, Lorincz was convicted of manslaughter by use of a firearm and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Florida Law
In Florida, a person must be at least 21 years old to purchase a firearm, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns, from a licensed dealer. However, law enforcement officers, correctional officers and servicemembers under 21 are permitted to purchase rifles and shotguns from both licensed dealers and private sellers. Individuals aged 18 and over may possess firearms, provided they are not otherwise disqualified.
Florida’s Stand Your Ground law allows a person to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm or the commission of a forcible felony. Forcible felonies include crimes such as robbery, burglary, and carjacking.
In these situations, there is no legal duty to retreat if the person is in a place where they are legally allowed to be, including public spaces. The law does not apply if the person is committing or attempting to commit a forcible felony, if they initially provoked the violence, or if they are engaged in unlawful activity at the time. If a person successfully invokes Stand Your Ground, they may be granted immunity from criminal and civil liability, and, if charges are dismissed, they can apply to have the incident expunged from their criminal record.
In September, Florida’s open carry officially began, marking an important change in the state’s gun laws. A decision from the 1st District Court of Appeal said that the previous ban on openly carrying firearms was unconstitutional and violated a person’s Second Amendment rights.
Families that have been affected by gun violence can file a civil suit and be compensated to recover economic damages such as a loved ones’ lost income that contributed to the household’s income, funeral and burial expenses, and medical bills. Additionally, a family may seek compensation for pain and suffering and mental anguish.
In criminal proceedings, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, but that threshold is lower in civil court with the preponderance of the evidence, meaning that the plaintiff must show that the fact in dispute is more likely than not. For families grieving the wrenching loss of a loved one, this process is to seek accountability beyond criminal sentencing and may shed light on latent dangers or gaps in the system.
Leesfield & Partners
In nearly five decades of personal injury practice, Leesfield & Partners has remained committed to holding responsible parties accountable for injury-causing actions. Whether this involves faulty sidewalks that are a fall hazard, reckless driving or negligent security, our skilled trial attorneys work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome for every client.
Nearly 47,000 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S. in 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pew Research Center officials noted that, while the numbers declined for the second year in a row, this continued to be one of the highest recorded annual totals.
In Florida, approximately 3,253 people died of gun-related injuries. From these deaths, 1,064 were homicides and firearms were the second leading cause of death among minors. In 2022, about 70% of Florida domestic violence-related homicides were by firearm, the data showed.
In cases involving severe injuries or death, Leesfield & Partners attorneys provide compassionate guidance to families while fighting diligently for accountability and fair compensation. Our attorneys have represented clients and their loved ones against government agencies, individuals and corporations.
In an ongoing case being handled by Trial Attorney Bernardo Piemntel II, the firm is representing two officers who responded to a fatal shooting at a nightclub in Doral. The shooter in that case was able to slip past security’s notice, bringing a weapon inside the club with him. When he got into an argument with another patron, he began shooting. Seven people, including one of the officers represented by Leesfield & Partners were injured. A 23-year-old security guard at the bar and the shooter both died.
The bar lacked properly trained security that should have checked all patrons for weapons before allowing them to enter the premises. A guard who had not undergone adequate safety training was on duty the night of the shooting.
In addition to our client’s physical injuries, both officers have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Had security checked patrons for weapons before granting them entry, this incident would not have taken place, according to Mr. Pimentel.
“It is our opinion that the tragic events of that evening were not only preventable but highlight a significant lapse in ensuring the safety of both the bar’s patrons and responding officers,” he said. “Had appropriate security measures been in place, the lives of those present, including Officer Romo and Officer Acevedo, would not have been put in such peril.”
Mr. Pimentel is also handling an ongoing product liability case in which a gun malfunction resulted in a woman’s severe eye injury when the weapon’s firing pin was ejected and struck her in the face.
Previous Cases
Previously, Leesfield & Partners represented an international student who was shot in the dorms in an attempted carjacking. Our client was left paralyzed after the shooting.
That case was settled for $3.2 million.
The firm previously secured $3 million after an incident involving a defective gun resulted in fatal injuries to a child.
Another product liability case against a gun manufacturer resulted in a $2.1 million recovery.
The firm represented a client who suffered severe injuries after an issue with the weapon being used. Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured a $1.5 million recovery amount in that case.
Leesfield & partners represented a courageous man who, after witnessing the robbery of an 89-ear-old woman, chose to intervene and chase down the thief’s vehicle. When he caught up to the car, he pounded on the tinted window and demanded that the robber return the woman’s purse. Instead, a single shot was fired through the window that hit our client in the chest.
The firm secured a $1.51 million recovery for the client in that case.
The firm previously represented a client who was shot while trying to get money out at an ATM. Our client, 24, was a youth counselor who was approached by an armed individual who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Our client was left paralyzed following the shooting.
The firm secured a $900,000 recovery amount in a devastating case involving the death of our clients’ loved one in an officer-involved shooting.
A different shooting resulted in a $675,000 negligent security recovery amount.
The firm secured $500,000 following a shooting at a community college in the Florida Keys.