A 35-year-old mother from Florida died when she was shot through her neighbor’s front door while her nine-year-old son was by her side.
The incident marked the violent climax of an ongoing feud that had been escalating for two and a half years, according to law enforcement officials.
The Marion County Sheriff, Billy Woods, revealed in a press conference on Monday, June 5 that Ajike Owens was shot after visiting her neighbor’s apartment. The neighbor had previously yelled at Owens’ children and threw a pair of skates at them while they were playing. After receiving a trespassing call, deputies responded to the scene and discovered Owens with gunshot wounds.
Sheriff Woods conveyed his disappointment over the shooter’s decision to handle the situation independently instead of contacting the authorities.
Woods mentioned that law enforcement had responded to numerous incidents related to the ongoing feud between Owens and her shooter since January 2021. However, the sheriff’s office has not yet made any arrests or released the identity of the shooter. Detectives must thoroughly investigate any potential claims of self-defense before considering criminal charges.
Due to Florida’s “stand your ground” law, an arrest can only be made if it can be proven that the shooter did not act in self-defense.
Before the shooting, Owens’ children had been playing near the shooter’s apartment. When Owens confronted her neighbor later on, an argument ensued, leading to the fatal shooting through the front door.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, representing Owens’ family, said that the shooter had directed racial slurs at the children before the confrontation with their mother.
Sheriff Woods added that they have not yet interviewed Owens’ children, who witnessed the shooting. The investigators want to ensure that child therapists are available to support them before proceeding with the interviews.