Neighbor kills Florida mother in front of 9-y-o son

(CMR) A Florida mother was shot and killed by her neighbor through a closed door Friday evening following a longstanding dispute. Ajike “AJ” Owens (35), a mother of four, was reportedly shot in front of her nine-year-old son after going to confront the neighbor who had thrown a pair of skates at her children.

Reports are that the woman hit two of the children with the skates, and the children went inside their home and told their mother. Witnesses told authorities Owens went to the shooter’s home and knocked on the door before she was shot, according to the incident report. Owens was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Family members have been calling for the shooter to be arrested. However, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said police knew the identity of the shooter but were working to determine what role the state’s “stand your ground” laws might play in the shooting. Under Florida’s “stand your ground” law, enacted in 2005, people can use deadly force if they feel their lives are in danger.

“Any time that we think or perceive or believe that that might come into play, we cannot make an arrest. The law specifically says that. And what we have to rule out is whether this deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest,” Woods said

Woods said police were waiting to speak with Owens’ children to obtain additional information out of respect for the children and also so police can ensure the appropriate people conduct the interviews.

Police have determined that there were ongoing disputes involving Owens’ children walking on the neighbor’s lawn. According to Woods, deputies have responded about a half dozen times since January 2021 to calls concerning the ongoing “neighborhood feud.”

On Friday, there allegedly was a confrontation between the children and the neighbor. The neighbor threw an object at the children, hitting one of them, Woods said.

“I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands,” Woods said.

Speaking at a press conference Monday, Owens’ mother said the neighbor’s door was locked and remained closed during the confrontation.

“My daughter, my grandchildren’s mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her. She had no weapon, she posed no imminent threat to anyone,” she said.

The 58-year-old woman accused of shooting Owens was arrested Wednesday morning.