A 35-year-old mother was shot and killed as she walked to her neighbor’s apartment with her 9-year-old son, ABC News reported.
Police say it was the culmination of a 2½-year feud between Ajik Owens and his neighbors.
A neighbor had earlier yelled at Owens’ children as they played, and he threw a pair of skates in their direction, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a news conference.
When officers went to Owens’ apartment to respond to a 911 call Friday night, they found him lying on the floor with gunshot wounds.
The mother of four was taken to a hospital center near the apartment building. Unfortunately, she died in the hospital without treatment.
“I wish her neighbor had called us before it got worse,” Woods said. “If Mrs. Owens had called us, we might have settled this quarrel between them.”
Since January 2021, officers have responded to calls about a dispute between Owens and his neighbors at least half a dozen times.
Woods said detectives are currently working with the state attorney’s office to investigate the self-defense charges before they pursue any criminal charges.
