A tragic Florida feud took the life of a young mother, leaving her four children mourning and the community in shock. Recent information has emerged about the tense moments leading up to the deadly altercation that could have been avoided with a simple phone call.
On Friday, 35-year-old Ajike “AJ” Owens from Ocala, Florida was fatally shot through her neighbor’s front door, while her 9-year-old son stood by her side. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods expressed his regrets about the incident, wishing the parties involved had called the police instead of escalating the situation.
According to reports, the children had been playing near their neighbor’s house when the fatal conflict began. Sheriff Woods confirmed that the shooter had interacted with the children, but the exact nature of the engagement is still under investigation. The family’s legal team released a statement claiming that the neighbor shouted racial slurs and threw an iPad at the children.
After the confrontation between the shooter and the children, Owens approached the neighbor’s home to address the situation. According to Sheriff Woods, information from one side of the story revealed aggressiveness from both women, with Owens banging on the door and threats being exchanged. Ultimately, Owens was fatally shot through the door.
The shooter is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, and the law enforcement’s response to the deadly altercation is being closely examined. Sheriff Woods mentioned that “stand your ground” laws in Florida make the decision to arrest and charge the shooter a complex one, but progress
