Florida: Neighbor kills mother after dispute over playing children

A tragic incident has occurred in Florida when a dispute between neighbors over playing children took a deadly turn.

According to a report on Tuesday June 6, 2023, a 35-year-old mother named Ajike Owens lost her life after being shot through the front door of her neighbor’s home.

The incident unfolded as the culmination of a prolonged feud that had been ongoing for two and a half years, according to the Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, who spoke at a news conference on Monday.

The altercation began when the neighbor yelled at Owens’ children while they were playing nearby and even threw a pair of skates that hit one of them.

In response, Owens decided to confront her neighbor at their Ocala apartment. It was during this confrontation that she was shot.

Tragically, her 9-year-old son stood beside her, witnessing the horrifying event.

Upon receiving a trespassing call, Deputies arrived at the scene on Friday night and discovered Owens suffering from gunshot wounds.

She was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries.

Ocala, the location of the incident, is situated approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Orlando.

Expressing his regret over the devastating outcome, Sheriff Woods expressed his desire for a different course of action.

He stated that he wished the shooter “had contacted the authorities instead of taking matters into her own hands.”

He stated further that he wished “Ms. Owens had reached out to the police, hoping that the situation could have been resolved before it escalated to the tragic point it had reached.”

Sheriff Woods revealed that his office had responded to the ongoing feud between Owens and the shooter on at least six occasions since January 2021.

However, as of now, no arrests have been made, and the identity of the shooter has not been disclosed.

The sheriff emphasized that “Detectives are collaborating with the State Attorney’s Office in order to thoroughly investigate any possible claims of self-defense before considering any potential criminal charges.”