The Sunshine State is often associated with sunny dispositions, but a dark cloud hangs over Ocala, Florida, where a neighborhood feud took a tragic turn. This is the story of Susan Lawrence, dubbed “Karen” by those around her, and AJ Owens, a beloved mother of four whose life was cut short. Now, as Lawrence faces trial for the fatal shooting, the nation watches, seeking justice for Owens and her grieving family.
A History of Disputes: The Calm Before the Storm
The tension between Lawrence, 59, and Owens began long before the fateful day of the shooting in June 2023. Records show that Lawrence had contacted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office numerous times, beginning in February 2022, complaining about Owens and her children. Lawrence, who worked from home, frequently cited noise complaints, alleging that the children playing outside disrupted her work and triggered her migraines.
“I just can’t hear my clients, and that’s not fair to me,” Lawrence lamented to a deputy during a recorded interaction. She claimed to be in constant pain, telling officers, “The migraines are so bad most days I can barely stand.”
Clashing Narratives: Two Sides to Every Story
While Lawrence maintained that the children’s presence was a nuisance, Owens and other neighbors painted a different picture. They described Owens as a loving mother whose children often played in an open field adjacent to Lawrence’s rented home. According to their accounts, Lawrence’s complaints escalated over time, with her increasingly targeting the children.
Owens’ children recalled Lawrence calling them names and threatening them. “She just calls us names,” one child shared with a deputy. “Like literally all the kids…the B word, the P word.” Another child revealed a chilling statement from Lawrence: “One time we were… playing right there and… she came out yelling and she was talking about a little girl getting raped and stuff like she’s crazy.”
Bodycam footage image
Despite the repeated complaints, law enforcement found no evidence to support Lawrence’s claims of harassment or trespassing. They often reminded her that the children were not breaking any laws by playing in the open field. “You don’t have sole control over the parking lot,” a deputy emphasized to Lawrence during one interaction.
The Fatal Encounter: A Dispute Turns Deadly
On that fateful June evening, a dispute over a lost iPad turned deadly. According to witness accounts, one of Owens’ sons was playing near Lawrence’s home when he left his iPad behind. When he returned to retrieve it, Lawrence allegedly threw it at him. This sparked a confrontation between Lawrence and Owens. Moments later, a single gunshot rang out.
“I left my iPad over there cuz we was playing games, and um, I went to go get it,” Owens’ son recounted to first responders. “I said, ‘Give me my iPad’ cuz she had…she dropped and tried to throw the skates at me.”
Lawrence, authorities say, had fired a single shot through her locked front door, striking Owens in the chest. The young mother died shortly after.
The Aftermath: Seeking Justice and Healing
Following the shooting, Lawrence was taken into custody. She was later charged with first-degree felony manslaughter and faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
Image of AJ Owens
Heartbreaking body camera footage captures the moment Owens’ children learn of their mother’s fate. Overcome with grief, one of her sons cries out, “I hate her [Lawrence] for good.”
As the trial unfolds, the community grapples with the tragedy, searching for answers and accountability. For AJ Owens’ family and loved ones, the pain of her loss is immeasurable. They, along with a nation watching, hope that justice will be served and that Owens’ memory will live on as a testament to the devastating consequences of unchecked anger and intolerance.