Netflix’s newest true crime documentary delves into a divisive law believed to be responsible for 30 deaths each month.
“The Perfect Neighbor,” released on Friday (October 17), examines the case of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens, a mother from Florida who was fatally shot by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz.
The film has quickly climbed the ranks of Netflix’s movie charts, gaining acclaim for its gripping narrative conveyed through bodycam footage, 911 calls, and interviews with law enforcement.
In June 2023, Owens, a mother of four, was shot in the chest by Lorincz, who fired from behind her locked front door. Owens’ child witnessed the incident, and she was declared dead at the hospital that evening.
The conflict between the neighbors had been ongoing for nearly two years, with Lorincz frequently voicing complaints about Owens’ children playing outside and using racial slurs against them.
The documentary highlights the intersection of prejudice and gun culture with Florida’s contentious ‘Stand Your Ground’ self-defense law.
Viewers were particularly upset by the four-day delay in Lorincz’s arrest after the shooting. Initially charged with manslaughter, Lorincz was eventually convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison last November. The Stand Your Ground Law partly contributed to the delay in her arrest.
Florida introduced the Stand Your Ground law in 2005, altering the state’s self-defense framework. Over half of U.S. states have implemented similar laws.
Central to the law is the removal of the duty to retreat, allowing individuals to use force, including deadly force, to protect themselves if they are legally present and genuinely believe they are in immediate danger.
Previously, U.S. self-defense laws generally required individuals to attempt to walk away or escape if possible. The Stand Your Ground law eliminates this requirement, stating that there is no obligation to back down.
The law extends these self-defense protections beyond the home, known as the ‘castle doctrine,’ to any location where an individual is lawfully present. Additionally, Florida statutes presume that if someone forcibly enters a home or vehicle, the occupant has a right to defend themselves with deadly force if necessary.
A study conducted in 2017 revealed that more than 30 people each month were killed due to Stand Your Ground laws, accompanied by an increase in reported firearm-related injuries.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods previously mentioned that the Stand Your Ground law influenced the delay in Lorincz’s arrest, as it needed to be proven she was not acting in self-defense during the shooting. Owens’ legal team successfully demonstrated this.
Despite Lorincz’s self-defense claims, the evidence and witness accounts contradicted her story. “Personally, I think it’s a great law designed to help Floridians defend themselves and keep themselves safe,” Sheriff Woods commented, according to the Atlanta Black Star. “However, it does not apply in all situations. And this situation [Lorincz’s] is a prime example of when it was not justified. It was simply a killing.”
“The Perfect Neighbor” is available for streaming on Netflix.