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The true crime category has a new medium, or perhaps even a whole new language and structure: police body cam footage. Faces of victims, observers and possible perpetrators appear suddenly to the cameras, at times in the intense brightness of vehicle beams or flashlights as the officers approach, their expressions and tones expressing caution or fear or indignation or dubiously feigned naivety. And we frequently incidentally glimpse the expressions of the officers themselves, one waiting impassively while the other conducts the inquiry with what occasionally seems like remarkable hesitation – though maybe this is because they know they are being recorded.

An Emerging Pattern in Documentary Filmmaking

We have already had the Netflix true-crime documentary American Murder: Gabby Petito, about the slaying of an Instagram influencer by her partner, whose primary focus was body cam footage and in which, as in this film, the law enforcement seemed extraordinarily lax with the perpetrator. There is also the acclaimed short film Incident by Bill Morrison, 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 woman of colour whose children allegedly harassed and antagonized her neighbor, a local resident. In 2023, after an increasing number of neighbour-dispute incidents in which the authorities were summoned multiple times, the accused fatally shot Owens through her closed front door, when Owens went to Lorincz’s house to address her about hurling items at her children.

The Investigation and State Laws

The investigating authorities found evidence that Lorincz had done internet searches into Florida’s “stand your ground” laws, which allow householders and others to use firearms if there is a significant presumption of danger. The movie builds its story with the body cam footage generated during the repeated police visits to the scene before the shooting, and then at the horrific and chaotic incident site itself – introduced by 911 audio material of Lorincz contacting authorities in a dramatically trembling voice. There is also jail video of Lorincz which has a disturbing, unsettling appeal.

Portrayal of the Accused

The documentary does not really imply anything too complicated about the neighbor, or any extenuating circumstance. She is obviously disturbed, although the kids are heard calling her a derogatory term, an ugly jibe. The film is showcased as an illustration of how self-defense regulations lead to unnecessary and heartbreaking bloodshed. But the reality of gun ownership and the constitutional right (that longstanding U.S. legal right that a deceased pundit famously claimed made firearm fatalities a price worth paying) is not much highlighted.

Police Interrogation and Firearm Norms

It is possible to watch the officer questioning segments here and feel surprised at how minimal concern the officers took in this point. At what time did she purchase the firearm? 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? Was it just on the couch, loaded and ready? The police aren’t shown asking any of these surely relevant questions (though they may have done in recordings that were not included). Or is gun ownership so commonplace it would be like asking about kitchen appliances or bread heaters?

Arrest and Aftermath

For what seemed to her neighbors a very long time, the suspect was not even taken into custody and indicted, only detained and even provided accommodation away from home for the night (another parallel, by the way, with the Gabby Petito case). And when she was ultimately officially taken into custody in the holding cell, there is an remarkable scene in which the individual simply declines to rise, will not extend her arms for the handcuffs, not hostilely, but with the politely self-pitying air of someone whose psychological state means that she just can’t do it. Did the gentle handling up until that point led her to think that this might actually work?

Final Outcome and Judgment

It was not successful; and the panel's decision is saved for the end titles. A deeply sobering picture of American crime and punishment.