After sentencing of Susan Lorincz the white woman who fatally shot her black neighbor Ajike AJ Owens through apartment door in dispute over Owens kids playing near her home the victim mother said her family start to heal.
Now we truly can forge ahead on journey of tru healing that we speak about
“Pamela Dias said after her daughter killer was ordered in 2024 to serve 5 years in Florida State Prison”.
ajike owens
In a country where firearms related violence from escalated personal fights to attacks involving rave and political murders continue unabated.
Owens family set out to foster its own healing by helpong other victims through fundraising for their near term need pressinf to change key gu laws and advocating for racial justice.
Owens was killed june 2 2023 when she knocked on Lorincz door after her kids whose outdoor play had become worries betwen neighbors tol their mother the neighbor had thrown couple of roller skates.
Lorincz called police fired a gun through the front door of her apartment killing Owens she later claimed she feared for her life.
“I am so sorry I took AJ life. I never intended to kill her.”
What began as a response to unimaginable tragedy has grown into movement for justice healing and collective care cofounder Takema Robinson told media
“We believe the path of change is twofold care for families today and reform for tomorrow”
That consist of offering rapid response grant of families after gun attack she replied.
We are not just responding to violence we are helping communities reimagine safety and belongign Robinson told.
Dia hopes her daughter somehow knows her life continues to inspire action community care and her name is now tied to change the mother told.
“My daughter and I would often have chats about what we wanted out of lie and she would tell me:
“One day the world will know my name” Dias said
“My daughter story reminds the world that love can be loudr than hate. We carry that love forward we do ensuring that her legacy is not definded by tragedy but by transformation”
My daughter Ajike was joyful vibrant and devoted to her four kids. She was supermom.
She was football mom.
She worked hard to provide better life for them she said calling owens their compass.
After losing their mother navigating life has not been easy. Dias said.
“It has been very hard for the children they were very young when they lost their mother and its something to child should have to endure” she said.
“At the same time they have shown strength and resillience that continues to amaze me”
“I can see the values my daughter instilled in them her kindness her love her faith and means they carry a piece of her wherever they go”
For Dias honoring her daughter and healing her family means assisting others as firearms continue to cut lives short every day.
Over 11000 people killed by gun so far this year in US according to Gun Violence Archive.
perfect neighbor
Each new tragedy is painful reminder of what we have endure” Dias added.
Owens death at 35 called to mind other killing specailly Black people over simple misunderstanding.
Ahmaud Arbery 25 was chased and shot dead while jogging in 2020 in South Georgia by thre white men now serving life sentences in case.
Over two yeard after Owen death our healing is ongoing for me for our family and for broader community still reeling from violent and traumatic incident Dias said.
“We are deeply awater that gun violence continues to devastate communities across nation and our story is part of larger reality”.
What happened to Susan Lorincz?
In documentart which starts in fall of 2022 neighbor Susan Lorincz calls in complaint to police about local kids playing noisily and leaving trash on vacant lot beside her home.
These calls to authorities and statements are documented by law enforcement body camers which movies uses to show escalation of Lorincz complaints.
The Perfect Neighbor premiered at Sundance Fil Festival where Ganbhir took home the US Documentary Award.
“I hope to inspire a deeper understanding of consequence of these laws and advocates for changes that can prevent more senseless tragedies in future.
