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The true crime genre has an innovative format, or perhaps even a whole new language and grammar: police body cam footage. Countenances of those harmed, observers and potential offenders loom up to the cameras, sometimes in the harsh glare of headlights or torches as the officers approach, their expressions and tones eloquent of caution or panic or anger or suspiciously contrived innocence. And we often catch sight of the faces of the officers themselves, one standing by blankly while the other asks the questions with what sometimes seems like remarkable hesitation – though maybe this is because they know they are being recorded.

A Growing Trend in Documentary Filmmaking

We have already had the streaming service real-life crime film The Gabby Petito Case, about the slaying of an social media personality by her partner, whose primary focus was officer recordings and in which, as in this film, the law enforcement seemed extraordinarily lax with the suspect. There is also Bill Morrison’s Oscar-nominated short Incident, composed entirely of body cam film. Now comes Geeta Gandbhir’s documentary about the grim case of Ajike Owens in a city in Florida, a African American woman whose children allegedly harassed and tormented her white neighbour, Susan Lorincz. In 2023, after an escalating series of neighbour-dispute incidents in which the police were summoned multiple times, Lorincz shot Owens dead through her locked door, when Owens went to Lorincz’s house to address her about throwing objects at her children.

The Investigation and Legal Context

The arresting officers found evidence that Lorincz had done internet searches into the state's self-defense statutes, which permit residents and others to shoot if there is a significant presumption of danger. The movie constructs its narrative with the officer recordings captured during the multiple officer calls to the scene before the killing, and then at the disturbing and disordered crime scene itself – prefaced by emergency call recordings of the caller calling the police in a melodramatically shaky voice. There is also jail video of the individual which has a chilly, queasy fascination.

Depiction of the Suspect

The documentary does not really suggest anything too complex about Lorincz, or any mitigating factors. She is obviously disturbed, although the children are heard calling her a derogatory term, an hurtful taunt. The film is showcased as an example of how “stand your ground” laws lead to senseless and tragic bloodshed. But the reality of firearm possession and the second amendment (that historic American constitutional privilege that a deceased pundit famously claimed made gun deaths a price worth paying) is not much highlighted.

Police Interrogation and Firearm Norms

It is feasible to watch the officer questioning segments here and feel surprised at how little interest the officers took in this aspect. When did she buy her gun? Did she receive any instruction on handling it? Had she ever had occasion to fire it before? How was the gun kept in her home? Could it have been easily accessible and prepared? The authorities aren’t shown asking any of these surely relevant questions (though they could have inquired in footage that didn’t make the edit). Or is gun ownership so normal it would be like asking about microwaves or toasters?

Detention and Consequences

For what seemed to her local residents a extended period, the suspect was not even arrested and charged, only detained and even provided accommodation away from home for the night (another parallel, by the way, with the a prior incident). And when she was ultimately officially taken into custody in the holding cell, there is an remarkable scene in which Lorincz simply refuses to stand, will not extend her arms for the handcuffs, not aggressively, but with the courteously pathetic demeanor of someone whose psychological state means that she is unable to comply. Did the gentle handling up until that point led her to think that this could be effective?

Final Outcome and Judgment

It was not successful; and the jury’s verdict is saved for the end titles. A very sombre portrayal of U.S. justice and consequences.