Local

Ocala mother of four killed in possible “Stand Your Ground” case

OCALA, Fla. — A mother of four was shot and killed by a neighbor in Ocala, Florida, on Friday.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The family of AJ Owens is asking the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to arrest the shooter, but the sheriff’s office says they are still investigating.

Investigators say the shooting happened on Friday on 108th Lane east of I-75.

Read: Ben Crump takes on Marion County case after woman shoots mother over argument about children playing

According to neighbors of Owens and the shooter, the whole thing started with Owens’ children playing on a field next to the shooter’s house Friday evening, which the shooter didn’t like.

Neighbors said the children left an iPad behind and the shooter took it.

When the children went to get it back, deputies said the shooter threw a pair of skates at the children. Owens then went to confront that person and was shot.

Read: Police: One injured after shooting at Breeze bar in downtown Kissimmee

Her children ran to a neighbor’s house asking them to call the police.

“She’ll come out and just yell at them, call them names, call the police. All of us have talked to the police about her attitude toward the children,” neighbor Ashley Remy said.

The shooter told authorities that Owens was banging on doors and yelling when the shooting happened.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says they are still investigating and will determine if they will file charges once they have all the facts.

Read: Plane that crashed in Virginia, killing 4, owned by Melbourne-based company

“We are committed to gathering all the facts before making a decision,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods.

Channel 9′s legal expert Bill Sheaffer said the sheriff’s hands are tied.

“In order to arrest, the police would have to establish probable cause that the shooting was not a result of stand your ground or self-defense,” Sheaffer said, adding that is almost impossible right now.

Sheaffer said the law works in her favor since the shooter was inside her home.

“Since the law provides greater protection for an individual that’s in their home or in an automobile to use deadly force, one could argue that she was justified if she was in fear that this woman was breaking into her home.”

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Q Mccray

Q McCray, WFTV.com

Q McCray is an award-winning general assignment reporter.