While some may argue that true crime has led to us becoming desensitized to violence, some projects exist which use the true crime genre as a vehicle to explore important questions around violence, discrimination, and the justice system.
This is the case for The Perfect Neighbor, a documentary exploring gun violence, as well as the existence of Stand Your Ground laws in the US.
Told through CCTV and police body camera footage, Netflix's new true crime documentary explores the harrowing true story of the killing of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens.
Below, we explore the true story behind the documentary.
Who is Susan Lorincz?
The Perfect Neighbour takes its name from Susan Lorincz, who described herself in calls to the police as “like, the perfect neighbor.”
Lorincz lived in a close-knit neighborhood in Ocala, Florida. However, she was, as one the film's producers, Nikon Kwantu, explains, “an outlier.”
In the neighborhood, families knew each other and their children would play together, games often taking place in their own gardens and in a vacant field next to Lorincz's home.
In response to the children playing next to her home, Lorincz became aggravated, shouting at the children, and calling the police multiple times. Records state that from 2021, she called authorities half a dozen times.
In an affidavit following Lorincz's arrest, a detective said that Lorincz admitted to addressing the children with racial slurs.
What happened to AJ Owens?
Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens was a “devoted and loving” single mother of four.
On 2nd June, 2023, 35-year-old Owens—a Black woman—was shot and killed by a single bullet, fired by Lorincz through her closed front door.
Tension had begun in response to Lorincz's escalating behavior, which included calling the authorities on children playing in the neighborhood.
On that day, Owens' son told her Lorincz had thrown a roller skate at him. In response, Owens went to Lorincz's house to ask her why she had thrown an object at her son.
Lorincz called the police to report trespassing and would not open the door to Owens.
She then fired her gun through it, fatally shooting Owens.
Where is Susan Lorincz now?
The subsequent trial then prompted national conversations around Stand Your Ground laws in the US.
Lorincz's defense team argued that she was in fear for her life when Owens appeared at her door, citing Florida's Stand Your Ground law. This law allows people to use deadly force in self-defense, depending on the situation.
In August 2024, Lorincz was found guilty of manslaughter. She had previously been charged with culpable negligence and two counts of assault, but these were dropped.
As of October 2025, Lorincz is serving her 25-year sentence at the Homestead Correctional Institution in Homestead, Florida.
You can donate to the Justice for AJ Owens GoFundMe here.
The Perfect Neighbor is available to stream on Netflix now.
