The state concluded its case on Wednesday afternoon after two days of testimony in the trial of Susan Lorincz – the Florida woman accused of fatally shooting her neighbor Ajike “AJ” Owens through a closed door.

The defense initiated the presentation of their witnesses on Wednesday afternoon, which could potentially include two of Owens’ sons, Isaac, 13, and Israel, 10, who witnessed their mother’s shooting.

Owens family attorney Anthony Thomas told
on Wednesday that while prosecutors decided not to call the boys to testify, it is unclear if the defense will ask them to take the stand.

Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, expressed her sentiments in a press conference on Wednesday morning, stating that she wishes her grandchildren “did not have to testify, but if this is what it takes to achieve justice, and this is what we have to do.”

"[Lorincz] did take my daughter's life; that alone is devastating. But knowing that one of [my grandchildren] could have also been injured or killed is an unimaginable pain," Dias shared. "She shows no regard for human life, especially not for my family."

According to a June 6, 2023, statement from the Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), Lorincz shot Owens, a Black mother of four, through a closed door in the presence of her then 10-year-old son after Owens approached Lorincz to discuss a disagreement about her children playing near Lorincz's home. Lorincz contacted 911 after fatally shooting Owens and admitted to the shooting.

Lorincz, a white woman, was arrested on June 6, 2023, and charged with first-degree manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Owens on June 2, 2023, in Ocala, Florida. She pleaded not guilty on July 10, 2023, and was detained on a $150,000 bond. If convicted, Lorincz faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

A wide range of witnesses, including several neighbors, two children, sheriff’s deputies, a 911 dispatcher, crime scene investigators, and forensic experts, were among those called to testify by the prosecution.

A central point of the state’s argument over the past two days was the first 911 call Lorincz made regarding trespassing on June 2, 2023, just minutes before she ended up shooting Owens. According to witness accounts, including those of the sheriff’s deputies who responded to the shooting, law enforcement was already en route to Lorincz’s home when the shooting occurred. This was due to her 911 call reporting three children – one Latino and two Black – trespassing on her property.

Troy Gann, a 911 operator, testified on Tuesday that he received a call from Lorincz, who reported that children were harassing her and trespassing on her property. This prompted sheriff’s deputies to be dispatched to her residence.

Michael Stringer, a patrol officer with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, testified on Tuesday that after receiving a report of trespassing at Lorincz’s home, he and a trainee officer were dispatched “immediately” to her home, which was 10-15 minutes away. However, while he was on his way to Lorincz’s home, the call was upgraded to a shooting incident.

He described seeing the victim (Owens) lying on the ground and explained that he detained Lorincz, who was inside her home when they arrived. Asked if he noticed any weapons on Owens or near Owens, he said, “no.”

During initial arguments on Tuesday, the defense maintained that Lorincz acted in self-defense because she feared for her life, while prosecutors emphasized that Owens was “unarmed” and fatally shot through a “locked” door.

“The death of AJ Owens is a tragic event. There is no question about that, but the evidence will demonstrate that in her mind, in her heart, Susan Lorincz felt she had no other option,” public defender Morris Carranza said. “It was either Susan or AJ. Susan chose to defend herself.”

The defense claimed that Owens threatened Lorincz, saying she would “kill” her, while prosecutors told jurors they would hear from witnesses present during the confrontation who would deny this claim.

The defense argued that Owens was attempting to “force her way in” to Lorincz’s front door, leading the state to call Lorincz’s former landlord, Charles Gabbard, to the witness stand on Tuesday.

Gabbard testified that prior to the shooting, he had repaired a malfunctioning aspect of Lorincz’s front door. He stated that her door was “structurally sound” after his repair, despite some aesthetic damage. He affirmed that the door was robust and equipped with a chain, a deadbolt, and a lock.

During questioning, Gabbard said that Lorincz didn't explain how the door was damaged but that “it was evident someone forcefully closed” the door. He stated that after fixing it, he intended to replace Lorincz’s door at some point. When Lorincz’s lawyer, Carranza, asked if the crack in the door was “significant,” Gabbard replied, “Yes.”

On Wednesday, the jury was presented with the previously released interrogation video of Lorincz’s detention, where she claimed that Owens was trying to “force entry” into her home. Much of the testimony and cross-examination focused on Lorincz firing at Owens through a locked door, prompting questions about the door's strength and security.

Judge Robert W. Hodges of Florida's 5th Judicial Circuit, presiding over the case, announced on Monday that the trial is anticipated to conclude by Friday.