It's a big deal. >> I I understand. >> So once. >> Oh, Jesus Christ. >> How many times did you shoot the gun? >> Once. >> Just once. >> That I called them racial slurs, that I called them slaves, and that's never happened. I mean, when [clears throat] she said, "Oh, you stop already. Stop lying." You know, [music] just to me, it was just an enormous amount of pounding, screaming, yelling, and you know, I felt like she was going to come through that door. I got to make sure you get killed. I'm going to make make sure that you know. And I'm like, what the hell is going on? >> Has this has Has has this person ever shown you a weapon or anything like that? >> No. >> You haven't really seem remorseful for today at least for what had happened. >> Oh god. On the night of Friday, June 2nd, 2023, at 8:54 p.m., officers from the Marian County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from 58-year-old Susan, who lived in Okala, Florida. She told dispatch that children from the neighborhood were trespassing on her property, and one of them had even threatened to beat her. But this wasn't the first time deputies had dealt with Susan. By then, she had already called law enforcement six times that year and repeatedly complained about the children in the neighborhood. Only this time, it was going to become the center of a serious criminal investigation. The following presentation contains material that some viewers may find disturbing. The case files and recordings shown here were obtained through official Freedom of Information Act requests submitted directly to the police department and may include previously unseen footage. Viewer discretion is advised. Just about 2 minutes into the first call, she called again and said that she fired a shot from the inside at the door. Deputy Stringer was the first to arrive at the scene. Just as he entered the apartment complex, he found a woman lying in the grass in front of a building. She had a gunshot wound to the upper right side of her chest, and her pulse was already growing faint. The woman was identified as 35-year-old Ajiki. Deputies immediately began life-saving efforts at the scene before she was rushed to the hospital, but despite their efforts, at 9:33 p.m., she was pronounced dead. Upon knocking, Susan calmly walked out the door without resistance. She was taken into custody and a firearm was recovered from her bedroom. >> I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long. >> We just had a lot that we had to sort through before we could come and talk to you. Um, [clears throat] so again, I'm Detective Stid, um, investigator here with the sheriff's office. Do you know a reason why we're >> Oh, absolutely. >> Okay. Um, so, you know, did the deputies like put handcuffs on you or anything with it? Cuz we're there's a lot of things going on and we're trying to sort through the moving pieces to try to figure out what happened. >> So, naturally, you know, they're they want to secure. M understood >> the scene in that under that circumstance I meant you know to handcuff you. >> Um so we're working this investigation and um at this point you're not free to leave so I have to make you aware of your rights okay before we talk. Um so I have to read this to you. >> Susan was brought into the interrogation room for questioning and was informed of her Miranda rights before asking about what happened. So, the reason I I'm trying to clarify all the events that happened tonight and to try to because really I only have, you know, statements from people that were out there and I would like to get your your side of things to try to understand what exactly happened tonight or last night now. I guess it is >> good gravy. Um, basically, um, the neighbors were up there screaming, yelling. Um, the kids were running back and forth. I had miserable headache. went inside, laid down. They finally got quiet. I came outside and the three boys are there. They're like, "Guys, you're trespassing. Come on, out of here." And he's like, "I want this and I want that and you and this." I'm like, "Oh, okay." Little big kids, you know, cuz they're all really young. And uh >> So, you say you came out and they were >> I wanted to check my truck. Every time I had my truck on one side, the kids would throw the balls and hit the truck. >> Okay. Yeah. >> So I move the truck to the other side. Then they move themselves to the other side and they keep just, you know, antagonizing horribly. >> Okay. So when you said that you came outside and they were there, the three boys were there, where were they at? >> Right in front of uh you know that little cove. That's >> like the f the privacy fence. >> They were right there. >> Right in front of >> inside the privacy fence like on your patio or >> No, they were just right outside. And I'm like, "Guys, come on. Leave." you because I wanted to check the truck and everything. And then they were like, "I'm going to tell my mom." You know, I'm like, "Go tell your mom. I don't care." You know, and >> Have you had problems with him before? >> Oh my god. Yes. And they they've been harassing me last week. They came up on they were actually in the vestibial area and they were like, "Wake up. Wake up." I was watching TV. I'm like, "Really? Seriously?" Cuz you know, after a nice long shift, let's just want to hear these little run. >> How long have you lived there? >> Um, three years. >> Three years. Okay. And how long have you been having problems with them? >> Like two years. >> Two years. So they were they were being obnoxious out there tonight. And they finally got quiet, but then you go outside and the three of them are out there. >> Yeah. And I didn't want to go any further because he's like, "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you." I'm like, "What in the world?" >> Who said that? >> Um Ajik's kids. >> Okay. So who is it? A >> I think her name is. Okay. She actually had thrown a sign at me before she picked up the no trespassing sign and just threw it at me. She's like, "Here, take your sign." I'm like, "It's not mine. It's Charles." You know, he doesn't want you guys here. >> So, it's just, you know, she's been in my mailboxes. She sends the kids in the mailboxes. >> When did she throw a sign at you? >> I want to say last year. I just after I had my neck fused. I don't like Good gravy. >> What kind of sign? Like one of the ones you buy at the store, like a plastic like sign with a little metal um like a real estate sign that had no trespassing. So, that by that Yeah. Is it the [clears throat] same one that was out there tonight or is it different? >> Okay. >> They stole that sign. >> So, what happened tonight that led to the conclusion that >> Well, I I just I'm like, "Kids, go home." So, they go home and then all of a sudden she comes out and she is just banging on my door. I'm like, "Go away. I I'm not not dealing with you tonight." And then she started banging so hard everything starts shaking and I'm like, "You really need to leave." And she I'm going to kill you. and she's just banging banging away, you know. I'm like, this is crazy. And since she has actually hardened me, I'm like, this just just keeps getting worse and worse. I'm like, I don't know what to do with her. And she bang so hard it looked like my door was going to fly off. And that's I just I panicked and I was like, oh my god, she's really going to kill me this time, you know. And so I don't even actually remember picking up the gun. I just remember shooting. >> Where do you keep the gun usually? >> It's in my bedroom. That's where you keep it like >> in in a cabinet or something or just like >> it's just I actually keep it in the trash can. >> Okay. >> Next to the bed. >> I know nobody would look in there probably, right? >> You know, and I didn't think about it and I'm like, "Oh my god." And I just started panicking and I really feared for my life. I mean, honest to God, I was like, "Oh, Jesus Christ. I'm a nervous wreck. You know, I'm not supposed to be getting nervous or anything like this because I have um an aneurysm on my left kidney artery." And so like you're supposed to stay calm. You're not supposed to do anything. And this woman just keeps saying I text. She's got the kids calling me. I go out. They like, "Hey Karen, I'm like I have a doctoral degree. Do not talk to me like I am one of your peers." >> So they don't really have any respect. >> No respect. >> So AJ um she came to your door. >> Oh yeah. >> And she was >> she was pounding on it. I was like, "What the hell? My cats went flying." >> What was she saying? Was she saying anything? you don't talk to my sons, I'm gonna kill you. I'm gonna kill you. I'm like, "Oh, Jesus Christ." You know, and I just I was like in tears. I'm like shaking and I'm like, "Oh my god." And then I thought she had gotten away and then she starts banging again. I'm like, "Oh, >> did she like try to come inside?" >> She was trying as hard as she could. >> What do you mean? >> That door was I mean that door was moving. I don't like holding, you Like did she try the door handle or is she just beating on it to try to push it in or what? >> She was just, you know, just trying to push it in. Try to push it in and I was like, "Oh my god." >> You just let you know it's back. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Did you see who was out there at that time? >> I just knew it was AJ by her voice cuz she we've had she screamed at me before, you know, and I'm like, "Oh, great. It's her again, you know, and uh I just like I said, I just panicked and I I just got so afraid. I was like, "Oh my god, she's really going to do it this time. She's going to kill me." >> Were you still on the phone with with 911 when when you fired to get on? >> I I thought that the kids went and I was like, "All right, I'll go check my truck in the morning. I didn't even leave, you know. I just went back in the house and locked the doors." >> So, but you had already contacted 911. Did the Did they advise you that someone was responding? An officer was responding. They said someone was coming out and they said, "Lock the doors, you know, make sure you don't go outside." I'm like, "Okay." You know, usual. >> Okay. >> And where where were you at when she was pounding on the door? Were you? >> Um, >> I was actually in the bathroom. >> You were in the bathroom. How was I haven't been inside? So, how does it like when you go in through the front door? >> It's all open. So, you can see kind of the bathroom right from the front door. >> Okay. >> So, >> and you were still able to hear her? She was able to hear you that you know as far as you know. >> I don't know if she was able to hear me. I mean she was just screaming for all she was worth. I'm like stop stop you know just >> she wouldn't stop and just like oh dear god. >> What what what else was she saying besides what you've told me? Was she saying anything else? >> She was just some of it was unintelligible. >> Okay. >> So she was just ranting. [clears throat] >> As Susan recalled the events of that night. She conveniently left out some important details. Ajiki's 12-year-old son, Isaac, reported that the dispute actually started over an iPad. He told the officers he was playing basketball at a neighboring residence while his little brother, Israel, was playing with other kids at the field of incident. Israel forgot his iPad on the field and Susan found it and picked it up. When Israel requested it back, Susan refused to hand it over to Israel. Instead, she began swinging her umbrella and threw roller skates at him. Israel confirmed these events and said one of the skates hit his toe. When Israel ran to Isaac, he told him to go tell their mother, Ajiki. As a result, Ajiki was on Susan's door within minutes to confront her for hitting her child. Inside, Susan panicked and shot a fire through the door, which hit Ajiki on the upper right chest. Ajiki ran backwards while attempting to make a 911 call, but the wound proved to be fatal and she collapsed beneath the oak tree. So, but prior to her coming over there um and banging on your door, uh cuz we talked to a lot of people that were out there at the time >> um and there was some statements given to us that uh you had uh taken a tablet or picked up a tablet that was on the ground. >> Absolutely not. >> No. Okay. that that child like the other day he said to me, "I'm going to go tell my mom that you called me a slave." I'm like, "What?" It was he came over with a rake and he was pounding everything with the rake. I'm like, "Really? Seriously? I don't know what's going on with that child." >> Mhm. >> So I >> And which child is that you're talking about? >> Um it's on the video. If you if if you get me my phone, I'll show you which child it is. I don't know by names. [cough] [clears throat] >> Is it one of the older ones? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, and what was the what was the deal with the roller skate? Because again, we talked to a lot of people who were outside and some of those >> keep leaving all their toys around. The other day I almost killed myself going out. I had an early morning doctor's appointment and I didn't see the roller skate and I almost killed myself and I'm like, "Guys, you know, stop already. This is not your garbage or you know, and the kids got us roller skates there and I'm like, really? Take your roller skates." And I threw the roller skates. I'm like, "Go fetch them." No, it would just be enough because >> Did you throw that at them or? >> Oh god, no. Okay. No, I just >> And what is the thing about the umbrella? It came You had an umbrella? >> I thought it was raining before then and I walked out and it wasn't raining. I'm like, "Okay." So, >> okay. >> And you like swung it at them or so or one of them? >> I wasn't even close. I was still inside the vestibule. So, >> how how can we explain that then with people saying like multiple people that weren't like talking to each other that if they were saying that that that's what they saw. >> I don't know. Maybe I did step out and I'm like, "Guys, [clears throat] go away. Go away." But I would never touch them. >> Okay. >> You know, >> maybe like swat at them with it, but not >> Exactly. Okay. >> If I did, it was probably cuz I was just so you like, come on. >> Okay. >> But I know you say if you did, but is that what happened? I mean, we got to kind of get specific about this because it's big. It's a big deal. >> I I understand. >> Someone's dead. >> Oh, Jesus Christ. So, that's why I say it's important to be specific and honest about about about everything. Okay. It was only because she was pounding at my door and I honest to God thought she was going to come in. >> Okay. >> So, we have um over in our communication center, they're putting together cuz all the calls that come into 911 are audio recorded and there were several people even before. So, this there's open lines were recording and getting audio of exactly what's being said. Not to mention if your if your camera has captured anything. Okay. >> So that's why I'm like asking you before we go through that and if something is different than what you're telling me, we need to clear that up now because you know what I mean? If if it >> if the evidence shows something different than than what you're saying, it doesn't look good. And I want to be open and honest with you. >> I just know that she was pounding and pounding on the door and scaring the out of me. >> Okay. Yeah. >> But is there any reason why if we reviewed that evidence, she wasn't saying, "I'm going to kill you." >> That's what I heard. >> Okay. >> I mean, that's what I honestly got heard. You know, it's just what I heard. >> Okay. Did you ever look out the door to see? And I know you said you were kind of recognized her voice. So, >> I I never looked out the door. >> Okay. I was afraid to get to my door, be brutally honest. I mean, I was like, "Oh my gosh, it's going to bust it in." I just >> Where were you standing when you when you shot the gun? And you said you did shot you shot the gun. >> Oh, yeah. >> Through the door. >> Yeah, through the door. >> Okay. >> I I just panicked. Um, it was probably [sighs and gasps] at the kitchen table somewhere. >> Okay. By the kitchen table. And how many times did you shoot the gun? >> Once. >> Just once. Okay. And after you fired the round, what what did you do? >> Um she said I'm like, "Oh my god, I hit her." And I it just, you know, clicked. I hit her. I was like, "Jesus Christ." And I thought I just, you know, nicked something. I never ever >> And what what did what did you did you go out there? >> No, >> you didn't go out there. No. Did you call 911 back? >> Yes, I did call 911. >> And what what did you say? >> And I said, um, she was pounding on my door and I shot my gun. I'm pretty sure that's what I said. >> Okay. Yeah. And she was threatening me and she was saying, "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you." So, >> okay. Um, >> it's significant that the detective brought up the 911 call because when they went back and listened to all the calls made that night, they noticed there was no mention of a possible life-threatening encounter. In Susan's own 911 call, she simply said that someone was trying to break down her door, so she had to shoot her through the door. The other five calls were from the neighborhood who reported a shooting incident. Sitting in the interrogation room, she was now contradicting her own statements, claiming she didn't want to shoot directly at Ajiki and that she was there to kill her. >> What specific words do you recall that she said? >> I just remember her saying, "Don't talk to my sons that way and I'm going to kill you." I mean, that's that's what I heard and I'm like, "Oh, Jesus Christ." And you're sure when you were on the phone with 911, you told them that that she said that? >> I'm almost positive. >> Yeah. I mean, if someone was The reason why I ask is cuz like if someone let's say I'm not a a police officer, you know, right? And I'm just at my house and someone's like beating on my door saying, "I'm going to kill you or I'm going to kill you." I Oh my god, they're banging on my door. They're They're saying they're going to kill me. Like that's that's a very fear-provoking statement when some if you know if you're in a a legitimate fear that someone's going to come through your door and kill you if you're already on the phone. >> I wasn't on the phone though. I was in the bathroom when she said >> you were on the phone with 911. >> No, I I was already off the phone with 911. >> Okay. So, she had already maybe made that statement before you even called. >> Oh, the second time. >> Anytime. >> I was going to say the second time. Um, when I called, she had already said it. >> Okay. >> So, >> but the second time you called was after you had fired the gun. >> Okay. >> So, and maybe I misunderstood it cuz what my understanding was before I had to walk out of the room was is that when she was knocking on your door, >> it wasn't enough. >> She the way I understand you said that it got worse like the the So, I'm starting off with a >> and then we're going to >> She started off banging on that door. I [snorts] mean, it was, you know, >> but during that initial time is when you had said before that she had made the statement that, you know, she was going to kill you. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Your your door is uh kind of like probably not wood or whatever, but you can't really see through it. There's no windows or anything like that. And I know your sliding door is a little further over, >> but >> um something that he mentioned, you know, as far as our training, when we have to go through making a a judgment decision where we have to might have to pull the trigger, >> we have to know [clears throat] what we're firing at as a is a a deadly threat or what we recognize as a deadly threat. So, my question is, how do you know what you're firing at when you're firing through a door that you can't see through? Um, when you don't know if there's a also a child outside standing there or I mean, basically, I'm asking you, what were you aiming at and what were you what were you intending to do when you fired that gun? >> I was just fearful of my life and I was just like, go away, go away. That's all I could think of is just get out of the situation, you know, and just go away already. And um >> but when you fire through a door that's closed, was it locked? >> Yes, it was locked. >> Okay. Um and you know, you're you said [clears throat] you're in the bathroom, which I understand you said it's kind of an open floor concept in there. So, it's kind of open, but I'm assuming there's obviously there's walls around the bathroom. You get a door, you can close it. And I'm not saying that. I mean, you're within your right. you're in your house, you don't have to do that. But if I'm looking at a door that's secured and whether someone's banging on it or not, law enforcement's already on the way, at what point do you uh you know, >> the door is broken? >> The door's broken. >> That whole um side panel people have she's pounded on it more than once >> and he fixed it. But when it just everything started rattling so much, I was like, "Oh my god, she's going to bust through it." >> Okay. you know. >> So, it's broken right now or it was broken before and then the landlord fixed it. >> It even cherry rigged it. He put screws through it so that the center piece was supposed to stay in there, but she was pounding it so hard. I mean, everything was just rattling and I'm like, "Oh my god, it sound like a horse kick." >> It was so loud. One thing that I think my partner was trying to um get at, and I don't know that I actually heard an answer to the question, when you're inside the house and she's on the other side of a door that you can't see through, and she's pounding on the door, you make the conscious decision to aim your gun at the door and fire one round, right? Just one round. >> Yes. >> Fire one round. Were you trying to hit her or were you trying to scare her off? Were you trying to make a loud noise to say like, "Hey, I got a gun. Get away from my door." Or were you think like >> I was never intending to hit her. I just thought I thought I hit really high, you know? I just like kind of, you know, it's the first time I ever really used it where I was, you know, like >> not on a paper turn. >> Exactly. I was like, "Oh my god." So I I just I was shaking. I mean, I was just so distraught at that point in time. I'm like, "Oh my god, she's really gonna come to my house." And I was just like, "All I can think is go away, go away, go away, go away." >> Did you mean to Were you aiming for the door? >> I I just just fired the gun cuz all I could think of is it's I felt like I was in mortal danger. I mean, that's just how I felt. And and what made you I mean I I know someone's banging on the door. You feel like they could get in, but at that point where nobody had breached or been able to get through that secure door. What made you feel like that was the time that you needed to do that? >> I usually have a chair propped up against the door at night. >> Okay. >> And I didn't have the chair up there and I didn't have the chain on the door either. So just um the one lock was locked like a [ __ ] you know, of all the times that I never >> But before you decided to pull that trigger, you didn't think to try to put the >> I wasn't going near the door because she was actually moving physically moving the door, you know, like you could see the door moving. I'm like, "Oh, dear God." So the the the thing is um and again I can 100% sympathize with being fed up with that kind of harassment and that kind of uh disrespect. Um but also someone lost their life last night, right? and she has children and as as much of a pain in the butt that they can be, >> they they're not going to have a mother now. Okay, >> I understand that and that makes me sick. >> And and that is as a parent I think is is like the ultimate reason that we all we need complete honesty. And I think what really your intentions were maybe not um to kill her, but I think you would just reach that level that we've all gotten to where we can really make a bad decision where you just it builds up over time and you can't take it anymore. And I think that you shot at her because you were fed up and you were you were over it. Is that >> No. >> No. >> I absolutely feared for my life. >> So this is >> this was an absolute she's going to it's either me or her. I mean it's just like I'm like holy. >> Did you see her with a gun or another weapon or anything like that? >> I I I don't know what she had on the outside. You know when my lights were off, you know, so she came up. It was dark out and I'm like great. Now she's pounding on my door. Now she's scaring the crap out of me. You know, now my door's moving and I didn't have it properly secured and the next thing I thought she was going to be in my house, you know, killing me. I mean, that's honest to God what I felt. You know, it's not like, you know, I'm fed up or anything. This was a real fear. >> But when we first started talking, you said you made it very clear to the the 911 call taker that she was threatening to kill you. >> Yes, absolutely. And if that's not on the recording, is there any reason why that's not on the recording? >> I have no idea. I'm pretty sure I said it. So, >> are you just pretty sure she said it as well? That she >> Oh, no. Absolutely she said it. >> Okay. >> From Susan's statements, it became clear that this wasn't the first time she and Ajiki had crossed paths. According to Susan, one incident happened in February 2022 when Ajika came to her house and accused her of harassing her children. Susan claimed that Ajiki, whom she described as a large woman, ripped a no trespassing sign out of the ground and threw it at her, striking her in the leg. As expected, Susan called the police. But when officers looked into the incident, they found no evidence to support her claim that Ajika had hit her. She also brought up another encounter on April 17th, 2023 when she accused Ajika of going through her mailbox. But despite these previous disputes, Susan acknowledged that in neither incident did Ajika display a weapon or firearm, nor was there any evidence suggesting she was trying to harm or kill her. Well, from the information I got, she was she was angry and pounding because she believed that you had either struck or attempted to strike one of her kids with an umbrella and threw roller skates. And I'm [clears throat] not, again, I know how kids can be, they're not always very truthful about things. Um, but I didn't have any information provided me out there. >> Uh, and of course we're still going through evidence and we there, you know, that's an ongoing thing, but nothing that says that she threatened to kill you or that was doing anything more than trying to get you to come to the door, that she wanted you to open the door. Why would I open my door to this woman when she has either when she has thrown things at me? When she has followed me a foot behind me, I'm like, "What the hell are you doing?" I mean, she's literally come up. We had words about 2 months ago. And I walked away. I said, "All right, whatever." And, you know, I said, "I'm sorry." You know, just cuz I wanted to diffuse it, you know, deescalate everything. I'm walking away and she's literally walking one foot behind me like she was, you know, I said, "Oh my god, she's going to pound me into the ground." So yeah, I mean that's the that's my question though is if she wasn't trying to come in, she's just trying to get I'm not and again I wouldn't come to the door either. If you're beating on my door wanting to cause something, I'm not answering it. But that's different than trying to bust the door down. >> To me, she was >> and you said that the door's already broken. So, how hard would it have been to for her cuz she's she's kind of a big girl, right? >> How hard would it have been for her to break that door knowing your home? You know your door better than I do, but if it's already >> Well, we did put the extra long deadbolt in and everything. I did have the deadbolt on, so I didn't know how long the door was going to hold. And and that's why I'm asking is because at first it's broken and now it's super secure with an extra long deadbolt. >> No, I'm just saying that we did put the but if you look at it, everything's crumbling. I mean, if you look at the door, things are crumbling. I'm like, "Oh my god." You know, my landlord is 76 years old and he jerryrigged it. Literally jerryrigged it. And I'm like, "Oh my god." So, it's not I don't feel secure. Every night I stick a chair under that door to keep, you know, cuz I feel like it's going to something's going to break it in. >> When did you install the new dead bolt or did he did that? Someone else did it? >> Yeah, Charles did it. >> Okay. How long ago was that? >> Um, he just I'm trying to think when the hell he did it. A few months ago. >> And what was the reason for that? because she she had pounded on the door once before and kind of everything that I had fixed previously she had cracked apart. I'm like, "Oh god." Like I said, it's not >> What did she What did she pound on the door for last time? What happened with that? [clears throat] >> I think I called her kid an idiot or something something like that and like you see the signs stop coming over here and he's like I can do anything I want. I can just go in. I'm like oh my god. You know it's just >> And what did she do that time? She beat on the door and should be on the door and like go away. >> Did you call the police then? >> Believe I called the police and this woman, you know, she heard me calling the police and she went away. >> She went away. >> Was she What was she trying to get you? Was she that >> I have no idea. I I have no idea what this woman is thinking. I mean, to me, she's just terrified at this point in time. You know, I just thought she is not mentally stable. And, you know, every time something happens, oh, it's my children. You know, I mean, you know, they're 100% little angels. And of course, you know, you're demonized and like Jesus Christ. >> But was she trying to get in that time or was she just beating on the door and ranting and raving about you calling her son an idiot? >> I think she was ranting and raving about uh me calling him an idiot. >> Okay. >> And I'm like, "All right, whatever. You know, go away. You bother me." >> Okay. >> But at that point in time, I had all the locks on. I had the chair up, you know, like >> Did you get your gun that time? No, >> I didn't feel she wasn't as forceful that time as you know this this time was you know like oh my god. >> And do you think the reason was because she believed that you threw something at her kids or >> I have no idea what she was thinking. I I can't even speculate, you know. All I know is she's like, you know, you screamed at my kids or you said something to them and then she's like, I'm going to kill you. I'm like, fine. And if your if your uh camera does work, do you um you're confident that that any video would back you up or and and the reason I'm asking that is because this is the time >> if if there's any discrepancies to clear that up now and I'm just trying to be >> forthright with you on that. What's that? >> I don't even know if it engaged because the last time she was there at night, I tried to play and nothing came up. >> So, okay. Um, did you ever know her to carry a weapon or anything? >> You can't tell who? >> No, you never know. That's right. >> Uh, we have kids out here running around with with firearms and stuff. So, um, but I guess my my question is what is it that she did that made that an immediate threat to your life that you had to shoot when you did or you were going to be harmed. >> I thought she was coming right through that damn door. I mean, I was my witness. I thought that woman was coming. >> What made you think that that she was coming? >> Because everything was shaking. I mean, my mirror that was on the wall was shaking. I'm like, how do you shake a you know, a cement block house? I'm like, oh Jesus Christ. That's what I thought, you know. >> So, she was just beating like >> Oh, she was bundled with it. I mean, she bam bam. >> What is your door made out of? Is like a metal or like a not sure. >> I have no idea. I just was like, "Dear God, you know, I thought I was going to get my >> How long do you think she was hitting the door?" >> I don't know. I can't even speculate cuz it could have been seconds. It could have been, you know, when you get that response and, you know, she banged on it. I was in the bathroom coming out of the bathroom and she was still banging on it. So, I don't know, maybe a minute or two. >> Okay. And you didn't try to call call 911 back? >> My phone wasn't there. I didn't know where I put my phone. >> You don't remember where you put your phone? >> And I was like, crap, I can't find my phone. >> Okay. Um, so you have uh an app on your phone that lets you review the video? >> Yes. for like for your surveillance camera. >> Um would you be willing to be able to let us look at that? >> I don't have a phone. >> Well, no, we have it in the office. >> Okay. >> Over here. But >> yeah, got it. >> Okay. Let me see what condition the battery's in and I'll be back in just a moment. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Susan's home had two security cameras. one pointed toward the patio and the other toward the parking lot. Unfortunately, neither camera captured the actual shooting. When detectives checked the footage, they noticed there were no recordings during the crucial minutes leading up to the shooting. At first, that seemed suspicious. >> Does it normally capture things during the night? Like, >> just look at that one. See, it usually just shows up as a dark screen. >> Which one? >> The room. >> The yesterday. [snorts] >> But they eventually figured out what happened. The cameras [clears throat] were sitting behind glass windows, which made them struggle to see properly at night. Because of that, they failed to record any movement outside during that time. There was no evidence that any footage had been deleted. The cameras simply didn't capture what happened. So with no video of the shooting, detectives had to rely on witness statements and the physical evidence at the scene. At that point, detectives paused the interrogation and transported Susan back to her place for further investigation. During this time, deputies went to collect witness statements from the neighbors. One of them, Patrice, told the officers that Susan was known in the neighborhood as the crazy lady. She used to scream at kids and call them racial slurs. She also reported that her children between the ages of 1 and 11 had stopped playing outside within the last 2 weeks because Susan had threatened them. Another neighbor, London, recalled the events leading up to the shooting and told officers that while the children were playing outside, Susan was seen making offensive hand gestures to them. London also indicated that Susan had made racial statements in the past, calling the children black slaves. Another witness, Yuriel, also reported Susan attacking the children with an umbrella and skates and said Ajiki was outside demanding entry and knocking hard before the shooting. In the aftermath of Susan's first interview, the case quickly spilled into the public. A protest formed outside the Maran County Judicial Center. Around 30 people gathered there and demanded Susan's arrest. The case also sparked a wider debate about Florida's stand your ground law. This law allows a person to use deadly force if they believe they are facing an immediate threat and have no safe way to retreat. People were divided on whether this case met the standard. Some believed it was self-defense. Others saw it as an unjustified use of deadly force. After reviewing these accounts alongside the physical evidence, investigators brought Susan back in for another interview on June 6th, 2023. >> Okay, Scott, I'm trying to understand. I I can know what happened to you this time. We just talked about that. I'm say Has anything like this ever happened to you before where someone was trying to uh break into the house and hurt you or something? >> No, not not like this. >> No, nothing like that. Nothing this Nothing like that's ever happened to you before. I just wanted to see if there was a similar experience. We talked about unreported We talked about domestic violence. We talked about whenever you were um robbed once of something by some men um and then there was something stolen out of a shed. Is that right in New Jersey? Okay. But then we're talking about um what happened there today. And this woman that that um she that she passed away. Um you said that she had you guys have yelled at each other three or four times in about uh a year and a half to two years. Is that right? Yes. >> And the last time she she yelled at you a lot. Um did she ever did she ever like Did you ever >> I worked as a patrol deputy for years before becoming a detective. Did you guys ever get in like a fight in the street or anything like that? No, nothing like that. >> I couldn't You [clears throat] got to be kidding me. >> I I got I got >> I'm sorry. No, I got to ask. I because I don't know I don't know you that well. Did she ever brandish a weapon or anything like that or or something? >> The only thing she ever did is she [clears throat] picked up the um no trespassing sign and threw it at me and hit me. >> Okay. Um and I know that the police came out a lot of times. Did the police ever come out for that time when she threw the sign? >> Yeah. And then um everybody in the neighbor said, "Oh, we didn't see anything." >> Okay. >> So, it was a he said, she said. So, they said they couldn't charge anything. I'm like, >> "All right." >> And and obviously you have a firearm. I haven't had a chance to ask you about this. Now, is that a gun that you've a gun that you've had for years or you just had it for a couple weeks? Help me understand that. >> No, over a year. >> Okay. Over a year. And um where do you [clears throat] normally keep that secured in the house? >> Um that's usually next um it was in a garbage can next to my bed. >> Okay. And is it is it like >> Now, that was the Remington that you're talking about that you got over a year ago. Yeah. >> Okay. So, when we were at the house, there's there was the other one, the the 22 was a Ruger. How long have you had that firearm? >> Um [clears throat] few months. >> Just a few months. >> Yeah. Not very long. And the only reason I did it is cuz it was so expensive to shoot the remnant. >> Oh, the 380. >> Way more expensive. So, I got the little plinker, you know, just target practice and stuff like that. >> Are you are you experienced with firearms? You got two guns and it sounds like you the little plinker and you know about the price of ammo. Are you are you wellversed with them? >> Uh I used to be terrified of firearms. And then a friend said, you know, you really can't defend yourself. He said, you should think about getting a gun. >> Okay. So, >> when did you first get a gun? Was it just or did you have other guns historically? >> Um, no, I never did. I first bought a 9mm, but it was just way too much gun for me, so I sold it. >> Uh-huh. >> And then I got the little uh 380. >> Okay. And did you go to any kind of training for those using guns? Like going to the range or tell me about that. >> Went to the range, watched videos, you know, all the other stuff, self-educating. And I was going to go take a um permit to carry course. >> Sure. >> And I didn't get around to it. [clears throat] >> Yeah. Okay. So you you you were selftraining yourself. You had plans to do that in the future. Um but it didn't come to that. >> Okay. >> Did she ever try to open that glass sliding door or open the door handle or anything like that or was it just the pounding? >> I just remember her pounding and pounding and pounding. >> Okay. Um [clears throat] so you said that you kept the firearm in the trash can in the bedroom. So at some point >> did you go Yes. >> So you thought about it and said I I might need this or >> Absolutely. I mean I got terrified. I mean, I was so terrified she was going to come in and kill me. >> Okay. So, you left the kitchen area. Yes. And that's when you went to your bedroom. >> Yes. >> Okay. Where was the other gun at that time? Do you know? >> I thought it was right there. >> The Ruger. >> I thought the Ruger was right there. >> I mean, we found Yeah, it was. But you used the You said that you used the uh the 380, right? When you fired the gun. Okay. Um is there any reason why you chose that gun aside the other one? They were both loaded, right? >> They were both loaded. I just the one I picked up. >> Okay. Did you handle the other gun at all? >> I don't remember. I honest to God don't remember. >> Okay. Cuz the the reason I asked is when we went in there, the 22 was actually on top of the the 380. So, you know, I'm just trying to figure out how it how it is that you you know, you went in there, took the 380, fired the 380, went back, and you would have put it back in there, but then the other gun was on top of it. So, I'm just trying to figure out if if maybe, you know, you're just moving stuff around when after things happened or something fell. I I'm just trying to understand. >> It may have fallen off the bed. I don't know. I just remember looking for my phone and I just remember I put the the gun back in. So, it you know, there's all kinds of papers in there so it could have flip-flopped. >> Okay. Was there a spot you picked or something like that? >> I just kind of There was the door. I know she was at the door. I shut >> So, since the last time you and I talked, I've I went in the house. We, you know, did did the stuff inside the house as far as photographing, looking at where everything is at related to what where where the door is. >> And [clears throat] you said you you had shot from the kitchen. So when you come in, it's like >> kitchen table. >> Kitchen table. >> The table that's there, the the two seats with the table. >> That's where I shot from. >> That's where you shot from. Okay. Um like right next to it? >> Yes. >> Or like further back? >> It was I remember [cough and clears throat] the table being there. >> Okay. How were you holding the gun when you fired it? >> With two hands. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Now, you were initially in the kitchen when um well, you went to the restroom and then you were in the kitchen looking for your phone while she was pounding on the door. And you say that this you believe it was between 2 and 5 minutes. Was that total time before from when the first pounding started to the time that you fired the shot 2 to 5 minutes or do you think it was shorter time than that or longer? >> To me, it seemed like 2 to 5 minutes. >> 2 to 5 minutes total. Well, by the time I shot the weapon, at least 5 minutes. >> Okay. >> Did she ever try to open that glass sliding door or open the door handle or anything like that or was it just the pounding? >> I just remember her pounding and pounding and pounding. >> Okay. Um, [clears throat] so you said that you kept the firearm in the trash can in the bedroom. So, at some point, >> did you go? >> Yes. >> So, you thought about it and said, "I I might need this or >> Absolutely." I mean, I got terrified. I mean, I was so terrified she was going to come in and kill me. >> Okay. Okay. So, you left the kitchen area and that's when you went to your bedroom. >> Yes. >> Okay. Where was the other gun at that time? Do you know? >> I thought it was right there. >> The Ruger. >> I thought the Ruger was right there. >> I mean, we found Yeah, it was. But you used the You said that you used the uh the 380, right, when you fired the gun? Okay. >> Um, >> is there any reason why you chose that gun aside other one? They were both loaded, right? >> They were both loaded. I just the one I picked up. >> Okay. Did you handle the other gun at all? I don't remember. I honest to God don't remember. >> Okay. Because the reason I asked is when we went in there, the 22 was actually on top of the the 380. So, you know, I'm just trying to figure out how it how it is that you you know, you went in there, took the 380, fired the 380, went back and you would have put it back in there, but then the other gun was on top of it. So, I'm just trying to figure out if if maybe, you know, you're just moving stuff around when after things happened or something fell. I I'm just trying to understand. >> It may have fallen off the bed. I don't know. I just remember looking for my phone and I just remember I put the the gun back in. So it you know there's all kinds of papers in there so it could have flip-flopped. >> Is that an actual like do you use it for trash or those important papers that were in there? >> Papers that I keep. >> Okay. All right. So you said it was about Let me ask you this and maybe this can kind of help us get a good better time frame from the time that you called 911. These kids are on my property again. yelling, make you know what happened that first 911 call, that time that you hung up with 911, how long before she showed up and she was pounding on the door after you hung up? >> 10 minutes. >> 10 minutes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, about 10 minutes after you disconnected and they said, "Hey, we have deputies on the way." >> Mhm. >> 10 minutes after that is when she started pounding on your door. >> Okay. Um, and you say anywhere, you believe from 2 to 5 minutes. Okay. Um, is there and I just want to be clear, two to five minutes from the first time she pounded to the time where you you felt in danger enough to pull the trigger. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And how many times I know this is >> how many times do you think she was hitting your door >> during that that time frame that you you believe is about 2 to 5 minutes? >> She just kept pounding it just compounding it and pounding it. >> You So just more than five more than 50. >> God had to be I don't know. I I can't even speculate. I just remember her pounding and pounding and screaming and yelling. >> Okay. Um, and did you call 911 immediately after? >> As soon as I found my phone. >> Okay. How much time do you think after you fired the shot? >> So, within a minute. And you immediately called 911. Did you call anyone else before? >> No. >> Did you call anyone else after? >> Um, >> no. I don't think so because you guys were here. I mean, you guys came right away. >> Okay. So, >> okay. >> What's with the what's with the the racial statements that everyone's saying that you made? I mean, have you ever used the n-word and they're using it against you? Have you said it in passing or something? >> I have no idea, but I it could have been I was speaking Hungarian and instead of English. >> So, you're native Hungarian? >> My father was Hungarian, my mother was Polish, so we spoke mainly uh Hungarian in the household. >> Okay. And is is there have you ever spoke Hungarian to these kids or anything like that? >> Yeah. And they looked at me and they said, "Stop making up your, you know, language." I said, "Okay." >> So, let me let me ask you real quick. You know that we had your phone, right? >> Okay. So, um, a judge actually signed an order to allow us to go into the phone and look over certain things that would assist in trying to identify the time frames of things that happened. And during the interviews where um we were out there talking to other people who live in the neighborhood, they told us that you've you've uh there's been times where you go out and either create video like record with videos or take photographs of what the the kids are doing in your area out there. >> So, >> you know how the you anybody could have a phone or a device that's recording? So, you would imagine I'm sure the kids have phones out in the neighborhood. A lot of them have tablets that record video. So when we talk to these people and we kind of we just we talk to them, they tell us something, but we have to kind of verify that. So we ask them the same questions. Do you have any video, audio, anything that would document >> as what you're saying is true. So when when he's asking you questions like that, sometimes we have to ask questions that we already know the answers to. And it's not to try to trick someone. It's just to try to see how how um how credible they are and how reliable their statements are. So when we ask them something that we already know the answer to and if they answer us and it matches up then some of the stuff that we're still trying to learn and put the pieces together to we we have more credibility and believe in that. Um so again he referring to some of the some of the racial statements that that have been alleged. Um, where does that come from? And like is there something more like did something happen in the past where or is that how you were raised or is it just something because these kids are just always >> like antagonizing you? >> They're forever antagonizing me. When I was 12 years old, some girl in middle school thought I was some other girl. And it came down to where I was stuck in a phone booth and at least 35 other people were around all bikes. And so um they ended up calling the police and he had to disperse the crowd. >> Okay. And what how wind up happening that? I mean anything? >> I had to leave school early every day. I couldn't be around. I couldn't do any extracurricular activities. I just had to be very careful at school. >> Oh wow. >> And so it's just, you know, it was craziness. So, I'm sorry this How did that I mean, you're kind of describing it. I can take a guess, but I mean, how did that make you feel towards your classmates? Did you have friends at that school? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, you had people that you could confide to and be friends with. >> But you said that you had to be escorted to the bus or something like that or >> No, I left um 5 minutes early every day. >> You had to leave early every day. Okay. Um are you And how old were you when that happened? >> 12. >> 12. And I mean it sounds like there's been some issues that is that something that's caused problems with you for the rest of your life? >> No. >> No, that doesn't. >> Okay. >> I don't believe so. >> Okay. So, we're just trying to figure out where some of these uh you know, we heard that you said the F word and the B word. These are what the kids are saying that >> I definitely dropped that. >> Okay. And what are you what are you saying uh the f word to >> pick your referring to stuff on the ground or something? And and when we say the B- word, what are you what are you referring to that? Who are you talking to? What are you saying when you use that that language? >> B word. >> Yeah. Which I'm assuming is, but I don't really know. Have you said that word to them? >> Remember? >> Or the bastard. Possibly bastard. >> I don't know. Could have been either word. >> Yeah. >> Are those words that you've used when you're outside around the kids or something like that? >> Uh if they're I guess if they were really annoying me, I may have let one slip. >> Okay. >> And how would they really annoy you? like just >> screaming. They would scream. >> The screaming and and that would maybe let one slip. >> Okay. Um >> but the girls would they would do something so stupid. I've never seen anything like this before. They would go face to face with one another and see who could scream louder. >> Yeah. >> 5T outside my door. I'm like, "What the hell are you doing?" I'm like, "Why? We want to see who screams louder." I'm like, "Take it over to your house." >> Sure. Okay. Um, so Detective Stith has been talking to you about the timeline, okay? And some of the work we've done. Now, this is a picture that I draw. I am not an artist at all, but I when I tell you some of the work we've done, I we spoke to um all the people over this is your house, by the way, okay? This is this is we'll put an S for you. >> Um, we spoke to everybody in these buildings. We spoke to them all in these buildings. And um, we talked to anybody that had cameras that would see different areas. these cameras, they they hear things. Um, we're able to hear audio. We're able to hear things like that. And everyone we interviewed, I pretty much got the same detective. I think we all got the same statement from every single person we interviewed. We lined up, well, we didn't line them up. These people were interviewed in different locations. Some of them were interviewed at different buildings and different places. I interviewed them at different houses. And all these people provided me similar statements. Okay? No one that provided these. Now, these people could hear her talking. Okay. She was talking loudly. Um you you said that you could hear it through the wall and I can agree with that. >> Okay. Um I she made a statement something to the effect of um um why did you take my kid's iPad? Okay. Somebody heard her say that. >> I never touched an iPad. I never saw the iPad. I don't know what this iPad is about. >> A tablet or something like that. >> Again, no tablet, no iPad, no electronics at all. It was never there or at least I never saw it. >> Okay. Yeah. So, I I have no idea what >> was she Maybe she's wrong, but was she asking you about a tablet or accusing you of something with a tablet or an iPad? I don't know if it's an iPad or a tablet. >> She could have. >> She could have. >> Okay. You seem unsure of some of the stuff she's saying through the door. Did she say you're not really sure if she said that? >> She could have said it during her rants. >> Okay. >> Um uh so she's she's saying these things. The thing is is uh everything that we've learned so far um I have not learned of her ever saying to you that she wanted that that she wanted to get into the house. It sounded more like she wanted to talk to you outside of the house. It >> how would how do you want to talk to outside the house when you're banging and screaming? That's not reason. >> One of the people said that she said come outside. >> That's not I'm sorry. That's not what >> it's not reasonable and prudent. I mean you just don't you know bang and expect someone to come out. Yeah, I think I'll come outside so you can you know. >> Well, I I know seriously >> what she's what she's learned what I'm learning what these people have said is that she was saying to come outside. She wanted to confront you about something. She wanted you to come outside. Um do you remember her making statements and asking you to come out there and talk to her? >> I honestly don't recall. >> Okay. So, you don't remember that and you seem unsure about some of the statements she made about the tablet. Um no one that we've interviewed so far has made any statements about her saying that she wanted to kill you. Um, >> that's what I heard. >> Okay. >> Unfortunately for Susan, she made a small slip up here. While explaining her actions, she used words like prudent and reasonable, which immediately caught the detectives attention. Those aren't the kinds of words most people naturally use in a stressful interview. Detectives began to suspect that Susan may have been reading up on Florida self-defense laws like stand your ground and was now trying to frame her actions as legally justified self-defense. >> Her son earlier in the night uh when I before I called the police her I can't I don't know how old he is but he said I'm going to make sure you get killed tonight. >> Which son? She has two sons. >> I know. Um I I don't remember. It was one of her sons but he was there. He's like, "I'm going to make sure you get killed. I'm going to make sure that you know." And I'm like, "What the hell is going on?" >> Has this has Has has this person ever shown you a weapon or anything like that? >> No. But I mean, the little kid said it and then all of a sudden his mom's coming over and she's banging and screaming. And >> does now I asked you this earlier. You said you you can't see out there, but you've only seen her a few times. >> Mhm. >> Um, and was it only her kid that you called a slave, or was there other kids in the neighborhood? >> I never called anyone a slave. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you said you said sorry for it. >> I said I sorry for it because I didn't know what how else to diffuse the situation. >> Okay. So, uh you told her that that you did say that, but you're saying that you were saying it's to diffuse the situation. >> Yes, >> absolutely. >> So, have you ever called any of those kids? >> Never called them a slave. Never. >> You never said anything about this not being an Underground Railroad, >> an underground railroad comment or something like that that was mentioned? >> No. >> We did so many interviews. There was >> Jesus Christ. No. there is a statement like that made. Um, >> all right. That's new to me. That's completely new to me. I don't know where the hell that came from. >> So, Susan, I'm I I'm looking at this from the outside here and and this really is not adding up to me. I don't >> You use the word reasonable and prudent earlier. That's an interesting series of words to use. Um, that's like a series of words that we use as law enforcement officers when we try to look at things. Um, and there's a big jump here that you're making logically that doesn't I can't seem to make the jump. I'm having a really hard time getting there. You you've you've known this woman for a year and a half to two years. Your only communications were two to three times. They [clears throat] were she the dogs pooping and then there was another time where you called her you said I'm sorry about calling your kids their names and she followed behind you. You thought that was creepy. She's never threatened you. She's never displayed a firearm towards you. She starts yelling on your patio area, banging hard on your door, which your door is locked, and and then you you're scared. Now you're saying that you're scared, which Okay, I can I can get to that. I can get to that point that you're scared. There's someone knocking on your door. >> No, it wasn't knocking. It was pounding. >> Pounding. There's someone pounding on your door, >> right? There's someone pounding on your door. I They're pounding on your door. And I can't get to the point where pounding on the door leads to your leads to you being hurt or killed. I I don't I can't get that. >> I thought she was going to break the door down. The door. You could see that it was all repaired and re-repaired and all that crap like that. So, I never felt that door was secure. >> You have an extended deadbolt and you've never been in any kind of violent situation where someone's kicked in your door or or like Kool-Aid man through your entire wall. You've never we there has not been that situation. So, I'm I'm trying to do the reasonable and prudent. I'm trying to come into your shoes there. And it's I'm having a hard jump there because describe to me, AJ, what does she look like? >> Um, tall black woman. Um, heavy set. Um, you know, >> okay. >> Does she have um a very um muscular We've only You've only known her for a year and a half. You've only had so many communications. I mean, is she is she like a muscular person that's able to like I don't know, do extreme feats of strength? Does she weight training her front yard guard? Help me understand this. >> I I I that's what I'm trying I'm having a hard time with this. >> I'm not being physicious. I was just trying to understand how we got from the point of someone but to get to she's going to get through the wall is where I I don't I can't get there. I don't understand. What if and I was I was thinking about this earlier. What if the police officer had already arrived and she is loud and she's still yelling and now the officer standing in front of the door and he does some knocks, but she's still on that darn patio yelling and you're shooting. You can't see. There's no peepphole. There's no window. There's nothing. And then you shoot and what if the darn officer was on the other side of the door? You see what I mean? And obviously she's still run. She's still running her mouth. She's still going. But you don't know what's on the other side of that door. >> He would have introduced himself. >> I I sure hope so. I mean, and and and that's that's what some of the issues are that I can't I can't get there and I don't understand um entirely what was going on in your mind. >> And something that caught my ear like when we were talking earlier um you had mentioned the words and I asked you to repeat it because I wanted to make sure I heard you correctly. you had mentioned um terminology like reasonable and prudent >> uh in reference to um [clears throat] how she was how AJ was acting at your door while she was trespassing and everything. Where did that come from? That terminology is that >> watching TV. >> Watching TV. Okay. Like uh documentary stuff or like what? >> Um probably just crime shows and stuff. >> Crime shows. Okay. Um, and and he I I have to ask you this is um have you done any research on like the laws as far as like in Florida uh self for as far as self-defense and things like that? >> I looked at it today. >> You looked at it today >> when I was on um Facebook. Um just some things that you know they had it up on Facebook. >> Describe that. What what did you specifically what you were reading about and learning about? Um just um they said self-defense and I'm trying to think what the hell else I looked at today. Um so much crap. Mostly emails. Um but I just remember seeing self-defense and there was a bunch of lawyers and stuff like that. So, prior to today, even the last time that you and I spoke on very early Saturday morning, um you had use some of that same kind of terminology in describing the situation that occurred at at your front door. Um prior to today, had you ever done any kind of research like that? And before I ask, let me just say if if we were to look through everything in your phone uh or your home desktop computer, is there any anything kind of research on your internet history that would show that you've done research on like self-defense or have you ever heard of the term stand your ground? >> Yes. >> Have you ever done any kind of research on that? >> Yes. When it was mentioned on um some guy shot um someone at a um convenience store and they said stand your ground laws. Was that like a Florida situation? Because I know every state has kind of different laws. >> I think it was Florida. I thought it was Florida. >> Okay. And when was that? >> God, years ago. >> It was years ago. >> Yeah, that was a years ago thing. >> So, nothing recent that would be on like your internet browser history. >> I just looked it up today. >> Right. But I mean, other than basically before this incident occurred at your door, but not we're not talking like a couple years ago. We're talking about within the last few months, would there be cuz your internet browser even if you delete it or you go on private browser if if you know we take a look at those things cuz we we did go through your phone. The judge order signed an order for us to be able to do that. He he agreed that there was reasonable uh enough evidence to to be able to do that. So if that were the case, if if we were just to look through that, would there show anything that you were looking up stand your ground or self-defense laws in Florida on on [clears throat] the internet? >> I don't know. I look up tons of stuff. >> Is it a possibility that you looked that up? >> Could have been. I don't know. >> Okay. >> I look just go and see why the laws were um you know, so I want to know why uh like if they have an article, what happened in the situation? What? >> Susan, I think you know the reason why I'm asking that question. You you're you're smart. Okay. And and the reason is >> Oh, hell no. No. Absolutely. I know what you're thinking. Did I look up the laws so I could do something? No. Absolutely. >> This is not a situation where you set something up to because you were you were tired of this person. You were tired of the situation that they put you in. >> No. >> Okay. >> Sorry. No. >> Susan's responses and behavior during the interview. Also raised questions about her mental and emotional state. Throughout the interrogation, she repeatedly claimed that she didn't remember whenever detectives pressed her on key details. Not to mention how she claimed the incident lasted for 10 to 15 minutes when in reality only about 2 minutes passed between the first 911 call and the moment she shot Ajika through the door. This made it even more difficult for investigators to determine if she was actually telling the truth or just pretending really well. >> Do you have um issues with any kind of previous from the car accident? I have to ask a head injury which would impair your memory or affect your memory or anything like that. >> I I don't remember. I think I hit my head on the steering wheel from the accident. >> Okay. Do you suffer time and spatial memory issues where you can't remember a certain amount of time and things like that? And the reason that I asked that is you have indicated that this was somewhere between like 5 to 10 minutes or something. Am I getting that right, Detective Stiff? Okay. Um, from the cameras that that are that we've looked at in the area here, I this incident did not last for 5 to 10 minutes. Okay. Now, I from the people that we spoke to, >> there's aspects of this that I can agree about. >> She's talking loud. She is she's banging on that door. We're going to agree with that. But the actual number of knocks, you did three knocks and then you said there was a pause. >> I never said three. Well, well, you said bang, bang, bang, and then she stopped, >> which I I counted three now. If there was something different, you can tell me. I'm just I was remembering earlier. You said bang, bang, bang. There was three, then she stopped and then she continued to, and then what happened happened. >> Mhm. >> Nothing has led me to believe as an investigator that it was like 5 to 10 minutes. Okay. >> Okay. Maybe it just seemed like it was longer. >> Okay. >> Probably because, you know, the general rush and just getting so upset. Mhm. >> Sure. Whenever adrenaline comes in, it can make things seem like they stretch out. From some of the other uh statements we've got, some of the things that we've learned, um, it sounds more like there was three knocks and then there was three more and then she was shot. It sounds like this was very quick. It sounds like this was like within a span of less than 20 seconds is what I would say. Is it possible that your that your time is off on this? >> It could be. Okay. >> I mean, cuz I to me it felt like forever. >> Okay. So, >> so if I mean if this is if this is like what what's being described as a 20 second this is a brief encounter. It's a brief encounter with loud banging with loud yelling. Um the statements that some of the statements that you're say you're saying occurred like um I'm going to kill you and those kind of threats no one else has heard you no one else has heard her say make those statements. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'm worried that some of the prior experiences you've had in your life that we've talked about today, they are traumatic experience, violence against you, um when you were a kid, all those people coming and trying to get you that there's something going on in your head. Are you not sure about some of the things we've talked about today regarding some of the things you're saying that you heard? Is it possible she never threatened you at all? No. >> I swear to God, I thought she said, "I'm going to kill you." I mean, that's why I I just panicked as soon as those words came out of her mouth. I was like, "Jesus Christ, she's going to kill me." Okay. And how did you imagine yourself being killed? Remembering that there's that block wall, that door, how was she going to be able to do that? What makes you think that she was able to do that? >> She was still pounding, but that she could have come right through that uh glass wall. I mean, the glass door. >> Well, we talked about pounding on the door. Did she ever pound on the glass wall? Is it a window or wall? Help me. >> It's doors. It's um um sliders. >> Glass sliding door. >> Did she pound on that? >> I She may have. I don't know. Well, I kept thinking if she's going to gain injury and she's going to kill me. >> And that's why I asked you earlier if you recalled um if she tried to Was that door locked? The sliding glass door was that say do you have like a anything? >> I I had um um I think there was a wood piece in >> in the slider. Okay. And you don't recall if she tried that door? >> I I just remember lots of pounding. you know, just to me it was just an enormous amount of pounding, screaming, yelling, and you know, I felt like she was going to come through that door. >> And I think Detective Pender touched on it like in your head, what, you know, during the panic, during all all these thoughts, how what did you feel that was going to happen? >> She was going to come in there and beat me until I was dead. >> Okay. >> I mean, that's what I felt. I mean, I don't understand why she came over my house. If there was all these issues and problems, why don't you just call somebody, you know? That's to me that's what you would do if you're normal, you know, that's a normal thing to do. Something happens to me, I call the police, you know, like, okay, you know, the kids are being run or she's banging and you know, but when I couldn't find my phone and everything, I was just like, you know, I honestly I felt she was going to kill me. Do you ever sometimes feel as if um you get so upset about something, crying, angry or something like that that it overwhelms you that that you you get overcome with emotion? Does anything like that ever happened to you? >> Um just trying to think. Um the only time was of death, but I figured that was normal emotions. Mhm. >> Sometimes whenever people get picked on and they get yelled at and they they they hear yelling and things like that with you, they they say things and they do things they don't mean, they see red. That's what some people say. They see red. And I wasn't myself detective. And they say things like that to me. And I'm trying to understand if some of these kids have triggered you and made you do things and say things that that isn't you, is not Susan. Is not the person that's sitting in front of me. Do you ever feel like anything like that ever happens to you? >> Um the kids definitely um just make me feel, you know, sick. I mean, they just, you know, they call me um grandma. They call me um Karen. I'm trying to think. Um they they've said horrible things. Um the other thing was um trying to think some kind of stupid infection. I can't remember what the hell it was. >> Do you say horrible things back that you wouldn't normally that you're not proud of? >> Absolutely. So, I've just, you know, stopped. I I didn't ask you this before, but I saw inside you have like it's almost a home office setup. Do you work from home? >> Yes, >> you do. So, you're pretty much you're always there and you're always having to be >> Mhm. >> susceptible to whatever they do >> and now it's summertime. >> Yeah. It's a nightmare. >> But they I'm very pragmatic. I'm like, you know, if you see the stuff up here and you know this is my front door, why do you keep coming by my front door screaming and yelling? and they're like, "Eh, you know, doesn't matter. You don't matter." I had a little black kid come up to me and said, "You're white. You're old. No one uh you have no one in your life. You're not worth anything." So, I'm like, "Great." You know, >> what did you tell what did you tell that person? >> Uh I told him, "We're always alone. Guess what? You come in the world alone." And you know, you leave the world alone. >> Mhm. [clears throat] Okay. And when you say that, um it sounds like you handled that well. When you say that you've said things before that you're not proud of, describe that to me. I shouldn't have called them names. I shouldn't have said I should have rained it in a little. >> Okay. Um, and then when we talk about racial slurs, have you made those not to anyone in particular? You've just spoken to the air. You've spoken to other people because there's been multiple different ways that we've kind of been learning about you saying these things. Describe that to me and specifically >> in regards to >> words like the n-word that you've said. Describe that to me specifically when you've said that. >> I can't remember if I said it or if I didn't say it. >> You sound unsure. >> Whether it's out of anger or I mean >> I don't know. >> Someone's calling you names and it's or you can become kind of overwhelmed with you're having to hear this kind of thing all the time and like you said, you might say something that you don't normally wouldn't say. >> I I don't remember. I honestly don't remember. Susan was adamant she had been in immediate danger because of intense banging and pounding on the door. However, detectives soon presented her with crucial findings from the crime scene. During the investigation, officers thoroughly examined the door multiple times to assess whether it had been forcefully struck or was at risk of being broken down. The door showed no signs of impact strong enough to suggest it was being kicked in or forced open and it didn't even budge under testing. >> So, I went out to the house that morning, you know, when I I met you out there. Uh and um I tested the door. >> First of all, I looked at the door. We processed the door just to see what areas might have been touched by AJ. Um I looked at the door frame where it had been repaired. It looked like there was a type of putty or something used where the the wood frame had been separated. I examined the the deadbolt lock. The um >> the uh strike plates >> were in there pretty fastened pretty securely. The bottom lock uh just the door knob lock. >> Um and even with the door closed, I stood on the outside. There were no indentations, no no uh dents in the door anywhere that I could that I could see. and [snorts] I pounded on the door pretty pretty hard and that was with the door unlocked completely. There was no lock secured and and that door was very sturdy. I and I'm not I'm not trying to take away the fears of of being scared and everything u because I think that that is a legitimate scary situation to be put in, but to justify to go from being scared to a point where you're taking deadly force um on someone who's standing on on the other side of the door and you don't even know where you're you're shooting at. That's a That's a big jump. And I think that's where Detective Pender is. >> It could have been a It could have been one of the kids standing there or something, >> but it was her standing there. I mean, I heard her voice. >> Sure. But some people don't talk. They're quiet. >> Regardless of that that fact, as I was saying, to go from that and and I didn't even have the any locks, and I'm pounding on it. And yes, the there were there were our forensic technicians were inside looking and yes, things were vibrating, but they also stated that the the door didn't seem like it was going to move and it barely budged even with the door unlocked. >> So, and that's why it's important for us to go through these things to try to determine um you know to try to put ourselves in your position in your mind at that time as much as possible. Um but to get that help us try to understand that a little bit more to get to that point from um a fairly secure door cuz like he said it's true. We've we've gotten to some of these trailers where you could pretty much push the door open and and >> that's not your house. Your house is pretty secure. That landlord did a good job uh I guess keeping everything secure. It looked like it was everything was good. So uh you've never had a breakin there before, right? No. >> Okay. No breakins there. Um, uh, there's the rod in the track. I, uh, did you have, uh, I know that you spoke to this woman two or three times before? Did you speak to her earlier that day on on Friday? >> No. >> Okay. So, you didn't talk to her earlier that day Friday. There wasn't, um, did you have any any conflicts with anybody in particular on Friday at all? >> Just um, the kids went there. Well, it wasn't a conflict. I just told them, "Come out and stop trespassing, you know, move along. take. They kids kept putting things out. Um they had marbles by my truck. >> Uhhuh. >> Uh they put their skates out. I tripped over the skate one morning that I had to leave very early and I'm like crap. And I'm like stop leaving your freaking toys here. You know, >> I'm not the most stable person, you know, um with my knees and stuff like that to when I'm walking if I fall again. You know, who the hell knows what's going to happen between my back and my knees and, you know, the other injury. And I don't understand why they just keep leaving their crap there and leaving their crap there. And I'm like I it's >> sounds that sounds frustrating. >> It was extraordinarily frustrating. >> Um the you said there was a skate. Was there something that happened with a skate on Friday? >> Um when the kids were there. Yeah. They keep leaving the skates really close to the house. I'm like, "Stop already." You know, because when you go around, you do stuff and you're bringing packages and sometimes I bring the truck up. I'm like, "I don't want to walk over your skates. I'm like, "Pick your damn up." >> Uhhuh. So, >> so where were those skates when you when you picked them up? >> Um I want to say they were um maybe five, six feet of the sidewalk >> on the grass. >> Yes. >> Okay. And you um you took some photograph or took a photograph of that with your phone? >> Yes. >> Okay. And there was a a video at some point. It looked like you were taking a picture or a video through the screen from you being inside to them outside. Is that the around the time frame that you flick you shot him the bird or something along those lines? Maybe not. Right. Okay. >> Probably. >> Okay. Uh cuz it looked like there was a bunch of them kind of further out in the field, but there was a there was a lot of kids playing out there and I guess >> screaming. You heard how much they were screaming over the TV. >> Um Okay. So when uh you went out there and one of the one of AJ's kids was out there and this is uh around the time frame where the skate you threw the skates uh out into the yard or something like that. But this is also so that was that was what was reported to us from from a few people. Yes. >> Um but also during that time frame was where that tablet situation came up. So is there any reason what this tablet thing is? >> It's like a Amazon table, you know, electronic tablet. >> I never saw the tablet. Never. He kept saying, "Where's my tablet? Where's my table?" I had a black. >> Oh, so he did he did ask you about it, but you didn't have it? >> Of course not. >> So you never saw it, never picked it, never touched it up. Nothing. >> Why would he make that part up if >> I have no idea >> cuz he said And it really doesn't change. >> Doesn't change. >> It doesn't change anything. I'm just trying to understand. Uh he said that he he was going to the basketball courts after they played in the field. He's like, "I forgot my tablet." And he comes over and he sees you holding it and he says, "Put it down." And you kind of tossed it down and then that's when you threw the skates and one of them hit them in the toe or the foot or something like that. >> No, because they were standing here and I threw it with my left hand. >> Okay. >> I made sure that I didn't I just threw them over to the other side. >> And that's when you told him to fetch or something you told him to fetch. >> Said you can go fetch it over there now. >> Okay. >> Cuz he said, "Give me my skates." >> Mhm. >> Your skates. I'm like, "Here, go get them." >> You already had them in your hand at that point. He said, "Give them to you." Okay. What were you going to do with them? >> Just throw them on the other side. Just get them away. But you don't remember the tablet or anything like that? >> It was never a I never saw a tablet. Never touched a tablet. Never I don't know where the hell the tablet came from. So I have no idea. >> And and then the the situation with the umbrella. I know we had talked about it a little bit before, but um do you [clears throat] remember who that was out there when um was that when [clears throat] excuse me, was that when the odor >> um AJ's odor came over? What was he saying to you? That's when he said I said you guys need to leave. He said, "I don't need to leave. I can be anywhere I want. It's you know I have this is I forget what the hell he said. Um just something to the effect that I have um no limits where I can go." Like okay. >> Okay. But he wasn't the one that was there when you tossed the roller skates into the yard. It was the other the other child. >> Both boys. >> Were they both there with the roller skating? >> Okay. [clears throat] So when you came out the umbrella that was behind your door, was that the one? >> Yes. >> Okay. And what what exactly happened with that? Because um that's another one of those things where we were talking to people who were right there kind of they already heard some yelling and back and forth. So they're kind of watching and um >> I may have been talking with my hands. So >> swinging the umbrella. >> Yeah. Just you come on guys, leave, you know, and gesturing. So >> how far away were they when you were doing this? And where do you think you were at? I I remember being on um the sidewalk and then um they were at least 5, seven feet away from me. They weren't even close. >> What did they do when you were swinging it around? >> Nothing. >> They didn't do anything? >> I don't know the reaction. >> They didn't [clears throat] say anything. >> They didn't back away. >> I don't I honestly don't recall. >> Okay. >> It didn't rain on Friday. Why did you have an umbrella? >> I thought it was raining. We we had um precept and I thought when the kids got quiet that it rained finally and they went home. >> So that's why you had the the umbrella out. >> Yes. >> It was time for Susan to confront the consequences of her actions and the fact that she was not the only one who would have to live with them. Detectives asked her to write a handwritten note for Ajiki's children who would now have to grow up without their mother. That's when for the first time, Susan seemed to truly grasp the gravity of the situation. >> All right, Susan. All right, we're going to have you go with this Debbie here. Um, >> no. >> I'm sorry. >> No. >> No. What? >> I can't. >> What's wrong? What's going on? >> I just can't. I'm sorry. I can't do this. I mean, we're unfortunately we're to that point where that's what's going to happen. Um, obviously this isn't a conviction. This is you being charged and then you're going to have your day in court to um present your side of the story. Okay. So, you're going to go with this deputy. >> No, I'm not. >> You're going to be booked in? >> No, I'm not. >> And fingerprinted? >> No. >> They're going to take your pictures. And then you will have uh an arrangement in the morning. >> I'm not going. Sorry. >> There's a phone down there. You'll be able to call whoever you need to call and right there in booking. >> I'm not going. >> But um Susan, you we are we are going. Um there's no change in that now. You're [snorts] you're under arrest. In fact, um we probably go ahead and put handcuffs on her. Let's get you handcuffed. >> Stand up. >> Don't touch me. >> Susan, >> stand up. Susan, >> no. Listen, >> it can go one of two ways. It can go an easy way or it can go a really hard way. >> I'm sorry. >> We don't want it to go the hard way. >> I'm so sorry. I >> put yourself in our position. We There's no choice in this. You're going You're going over there. It's >> I'm sorry. I can't do this. >> Susan, you understand that from from the point of the story that that you've given us that by refusing and and resisting that it's it's making making you look bad. Okay. And I understand your reluctance to want to go. >> Good. I just can't do this. >> Okay. Well, they have medical staff over there that can assist. There's a nurse right in the front. >> They can you give them the prescription medications that you're taking, all that. They will assist you in making sure that you get the care you need. >> We're going over there. Okay. You're going to go over there. >> I just can't do this. >> Okay. Well, >> come on, Susan. Stand up. We don't have time to I can't do this. >> Okay. But do you understand that you're under arrest and you're going to be taken to the jail one way or another? Okay. >> I don't care. >> Susan, I I just can't do this. I'm sorry. I don't what you're saying and doing right now is not it's not reasonable. >> I know it's notable. I just can't do this. >> So you when you say it's you know it's not reasonable. That doesn't make sense to me. >> I understand. I just can't do this. I'm sorry. >> And this is why we're in this position here, Susan, is because the decisions you make are not reasonable. You you make just like what we're experiencing right now. >> I'm sorry. I just can't do this. I can't do this. >> I have had people sit in this chair that have done things and they [clears throat] get up. They walk out on their own accord. They have done some really bad things. Okay, you're not the only person, but I need you to >> I just feel horrible. I can't do this. >> Okay. Well, we're we're going to go to the jail. There's no changing this. There's no stopping it. >> I don't care. Kill me. >> We're not going to kill anybody. We're going to we're going to take you to the jail. We'd rather you walk on your own. We'd rather you just walk down there. It'd be so much better for everybody if we could just walk down. Can >> you just stand up for me? >> No. >> So, what do you plan on sitting here the rest of the night? I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm probably going to die of a heart attack. >> Well, like I said, they have medical staff over there. We want to be able to get you over there. >> The quicker we get you over there, the quicker someone over there that's in medical cance. >> Susan, this is what's going to happen. We're going to put you in handcuffs and if we have to >> forcefully bring you out there, that's what we have to do because we are obligated to take you to the jail now. Okay. >> Thank you for standing up. Sorry. I just >> I understand that. >> So, turn your hands on your back for me. I mean, thank you, Susan. >> I didn't do this on purpose. This wasn't a purposeful act. I did not premeditate it. I didn't do anything like that. This is ridiculous. We're going to go out this way. I am so sorry for your loss. I never meant to kill your mother. I was terrified your mom was going to kill me. I shot out of fear. Susan was arrested and charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault. Following the arrest, deputies reported that Susan experienced chest pain and was first transported to a hospital for medical evaluation before being formally booked into jail custody. The case eventually went to trial, where the jury found Susan guilty of manslaughter with a firearm. She was sentenced with a 25-year prison term. Susan is currently serving her sentence at the Homestead Correctional Institution in Homestead, Florida. This concludes the report from our investigation division at Twins Scope Cops. All individuals involved remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Thank you for supporting verified and responsible case analysis. Your engagement helps us continue this work and we invite you to share your thoughts respectfully in the comments.