OCALA, Fla. – A documentary coming to Netflix later this year focuses on “stand your ground” laws through the lens of Ajike “A.J.” Owens’ shooting death at the hands of her Ocala neighbor, Susan Lorincz, who has since been sentenced to prison.
Lorincz in June 2023, through her front door, fatally shot Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four.
The shooting occurred after months of mounting complaints and issues in their Ocala neighborhood, with sheriff’s officials reporting Owens had approached Lorincz’s home the day she was shot to confront Lorincz over her alleged treatment of children who were playing in an open field nearby. Lorincz claimed the field was part of the property she rented in the complex, records show.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said it delayed arresting Lorincz for several days because she claimed feeling she was in “mortal danger,” which would be in line with Florida’s Stand Your Ground laws. She was found guilty of manslaughter in August and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in November.
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“The Perfect Neighbor,” from Emmy Award-winning director Geeta Gandbhir, is billed as “a deeply personal project” that explores Owens’ killing and “confronts viewers with the stark realities of ‘stand your ground’ laws.”
“‘The Perfect Neighbor’ (was) created to transform grief into purpose and honor the lasting legacy of Ajike Owens and her family,” Gandbhir said in a statement. “My team at Message Pictures, along with our incredible partners at S’OB Productions and Park Pictures, are thrilled the film will be available on Netflix, offering audiences worldwide the chance to experience this urgent and powerful story.”
The documentary premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won in the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary category. It was also an official selection at SXSW, CPH:DOX and the Miami Film Festival, according to a news release.