In less than three days, a Netflix documentary captured 16.7 million views. The film documents the moments leading up to a woman fatally shooting her neighbor through her front door. Why did the movie capture the attention of the United States, and what does it say about Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground laws?
What Is “The Perfect Neighbor”?
The Perfect Neighbor is a documentary originally released to critical acclaim at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2025. Netflix secured the rights to add the movie to its streaming platform. It was released on October 10, 2025. In just three days, the movie had been viewed 16.7 million times.
Through mostly police bodycam footage, the documentary tells the story of what happened in a Florida neighborhood in 2023. The documentary follows multiple police visits to the Ocala neighborhood, where a woman, Susan Lorincz, repeatedly called authorities on children playing around her rental home.
The story escalates to an altercation between Lorincz and one of the children’s mothers, Ajike “AJ” Owens. When Owens knocks on Lorincz’s door to ask her about an incident with her child, Owens fires a gun through the door and kills Lorincz.
The movie then follows the delayed arrest of Owens and points a finger at Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground laws. While Owens is eventually arrested and convicted, the movie concludes with a statement that says, “Stand Your Ground laws have been linked to an 8% to 11% increase in homicide rates, or roughly 700 additional deaths each year.”
What Are Stand Your Ground Laws?
Stand Your Ground laws refer to a set of Florida laws that are described in Florida Statute Sections 776.012 and 776.013.
Statute 776.012 describes the law as:
“A person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.
A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force in accordance with this subsection does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if the person using or threatening to use the deadly force is not engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be.”
The laws allow a person to use deadly force if they feel their life is in danger. These laws are different from laws in other states that require a “duty to retreat” before using deadly force.
Florida was one of the first states to pass Stand Your Ground laws. Now, many other states have similar laws. States that have similar Stand Your Ground laws include:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Stand Your Ground laws are used as a criminal defense. They can result in either a case being dismissed and never going to trial, or they can be used during a trial to lead to a not guilty verdict.
Related: Judge Says Dog Parking Shooting Doesn’t Qualify for “Stand Your Ground” Dismissal
Why Are Stand Your Ground Laws Controversial?
Stand Your Ground laws have been the subject of many controversies. Most notably, in 2012, George Zimmerman was acquitted in the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin after using Stand Your Ground laws in his legal defense.
In another case, former police captain Curtis Reeves was found not guilty after using Stand Your Ground laws in his defense of shooting and killing Chad Oulson in a movie theater. TJ Grimaldi knows this case well as he represented Oulson’s wife, Nicole Oulson, throughout the eight-year legal battle. Grimaldi saw first-hand how Stand Your Ground laws can be used to get unfair acquittals in cases that would otherwise lead to convictions.
Stand Your Ground cases highlight the challenge in proving when is the right time to use deadly force. To use Stand Your Ground as a defense, defendants must prove:
- They had a right to be in the area where the incident occurred.
- They believed they were in immediate danger that threatened their life.
- They did not start or escalate the altercation.
In the case of “The Perfect Neighbor,” the jury found that Lorincz did not have the right to use deadly force. She was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The Story Continues with a Wrongful Death Case
One part of the story “The Perfect Neighbor” left out is the legal fight that is ongoing in the case.
The Owens family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lorincz and Charles Gabbard, the landlord of the property where the shooting took place. The family is seeking $50,000 in damages, according to reporting by 20 WCJB.
The wrongful death case remains open at this time.
Related: Examples of Wrongful Death Cases Worth Fighting For
Get a Lawyer for Life’s Difficult Moments
The law is complex and complicated. Don’t navigate any legal matter on your own. If you are facing a legal matter during one of life’s difficult moments, get a trusted attorney by your side. Schedule a call with Tampa-based TJ Grimaldi. All consultations are free. Schedule or call 813-226-1023 today.
Taking a Stand Against Gun Violence
TJ Grimaldi works to support families impacted by gun violence. He is the Executive Director and Board Member of The Oulson Family Foundation, a non-profit created to honor the life and legacy of Chad Oulson, whose life ended in a senseless act of gun violence. Learn more about The Oulson Family Foundation.