Leader calls for ‘unity’ and ‘education’

By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com

Ajike “AJ” Owens, whose shooting death on June 2 in Marion County has drawn national attention, was hailed as a civil rights martyr by the president of the local chapter of the NAACP at a meeting Sunday night, July 9.

“AJ Owens was a civil rights martyr like Emmett Till and many others who died for no reason. ‘AJ’ had her civil rights snatched away (when) Susan Lorincz brutally murdered her,” said James Stockton, president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP.

Stockton referenced federal hate crime charges. The remarks were made during the NAACP membership meeting at Ramah Baptist Church near Belleview. Stockton’s remarks focused on the “atmosphere in the community” after Owens’ killing and a rash of shooting deaths in the community.

The city of Ocala has had four homicides to date in 2023, all Black males; one was stabbed, the others were shot, according to Ocala Police Department Public Information Officer Jeffrey Walczak. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has investigated 10 homicides so far this year, including the deaths of three teens in the Ocala Forest Area, according to Public Information Officer Zach Moore. MCSO has released information on eight cases—six were shooting deaths and the manner of death was not identified in two cases; four victims were identified as white and four Black.

Stockton indicated the shooting deaths other than Owens’ may “not necessarily involve civil rights” but he charged the local NAACP members to “shift from reactive to proactive” and called for “unity” and “education” and in the Black community.

Stockton also spoke at a National Day of Righteous Outrage held Saturday July 8. Attorney Anthony Thomas, of Florida, cocounsel representing Owens’ family along with well-known civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, had issued a statement inviting the community to the event. Crump also spoke at the gathering on Saturday. Stockton said he saw a number of community leaders and activist at the event who were announced as being from Ocala, but he was “not aware of the great social and community work that they were doing.” He stated in a follow up question he saw a need to unify efforts among local leaders and groups.

Lorincz was arrested June 6.

Stockton reviewed several points listed in the arrest document, including that she bought two guns for “protection” during her ongoing dispute with Owens over Owens’ children playing in a field adjacent to her residence; when Lorincz was asked in an interview if Owens tried to turn the doorknob, she said Owens “was just beating the door”; and Lorincz admitted Google-ing “stand your ground” law information. The charging document states that on the night of the shooting Lorincz felt she was in “mortal danger.”

In a June 26 press release, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson stated, “Lorincz has been charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault. Lorincz faces up to 30 years in prison on the charges.”

Lorincz remains in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $154,000 bond.

The MCSO charging document stated, “there is probable cause for simple battery by throwing a roller skate at juvenile and probable cause for two counts of simple assault for swinging an umbrella at juvenile” and Lorincz “admitted to having used the n-word toward children out of anger in the past and also to calling children other derogatory terms.”

Stockton said Owens was defending her children like a “mama bear … because protecting your children transcends race. What would any parent regardless of race have done differently.”

Stockton told the group the Black community should closely study laws like the justified use of deadly force law known as stand your ground, which some shooters “hide behind,” and to know their elected officials in order to call for more oversight.

On Monday, July 10, during an appearance in court, Lorincz pleaded not guilty. Stockton said he was not surprised by the plea.