OCALA, Fla. — A protest in Downtown Ocala happened Monday evening as community members reacted to new criminal charges filed in the shooting death of Ajike Owens.

Susan Lorincz is charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault. She’s accused of shooting her through a door, killing the mother of 4.

Now the family and some community members are urging the state attorney to increase the charges to second degree murder.

What You Need To Know

  • State Attorney Bill Gladson charged Susan Lorincz with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault

  • The family and some community members are urging the state attorney to increase the charges to second degree murder

  • State Attorney Bill Gladson said hey had insufficient evidence to prove a second degree murder charge

  • A group of citizens came out to the Marion Co. Judicial Center protesting the state attorney's decision

While Francesca Mitchell is only 19 years old, she said she’s had enough of this gun violence in her community. That’s why she came out here earlier today taking a stand.

Fighting to bring justice to Ajike Owens and her family. Advocates said the battle continues in the Ocala community.

"We’re trying to get justice for AJ, we’re trying to get justice for her kids, we’re trying to get justice for our community. It’s been too long in this community that we’ve been in this survival mode," said Mitchell.

Monday evening Mitchell, along with dozens of other concerned citizens protested State Attorney Bill Gladson’s decision to charge Susan Lorincz with one count of manslaughter and one count of assault. The family and some community members urging for second degree murder charges.

"It does hurt us, when our lives aren’t valued the same than our white counterparts," said Mitchell.

She said enough is enough, if the roles were reversed the end result may look a bit different.

"If AJ Owens was a white woman and Susan Lorincz was a black woman it would be automatically a murder charge. There would have been no discussions whether or not her statements would have been fit for the charge," said Mitchell.

State Attorney Bill Gladson said in a press release Monday his office examined the viability of both second degree murder and manslaughter with a firearm. However, the prosecution said they had insufficient evidence to prove a second degree murder charge. Mitchell is urging Gladson to reconsider.

"Our lives aren’t valued enough. That’s why we’re stressing that our lives do matter," said Mitchell.

The state attorney’s office said with the current charges Lorincz could still face up to 30 years in prison.