A Family Torn Apart by Gun Violence Works to Turn Trauma Into Hope, Prevention and Support For Others

November 13, 2025

Following the 25-year prison sentence of Susan Lorincz for fatally shooting her Black neighbor Ajike "AJ" Owens through a door during a 2023 dispute over children playing, Owens' mother Pamela Dias has channeled her grief into advocacy work. Dias co-founded the Standing in the Gap Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by gun and racial violence through rapid-response grants and legislative advocacy. The organization challenges Stand Your Ground laws and aims to begin distributing grants to families and organizers by 2027.

Who is affected

Ajike "AJ" Owens (the victim, killed at age 35)
Owens' four children who lost their mother
Pamela Dias (Owens' mother and grandmother to the children)
Susan Lorincz (convicted shooter serving 25 years)
Takema Robinson (co-founder of Standing in the Gap Fund)
Families impacted by gun and racial violence nationwide
Communities experiencing firearms-related violence (over 11,000 gun deaths in the US so far this year according to the Gun Violence Archive)

What action is being taken

The Standing in the Gap Fund is operating as a donor-advised fund hosted by the Greater Washington Community Foundation
The organization is advocating for legislative change, including challenging Stand Your Ground laws
The fund is investing in arts and storytelling as tools for justice and healing
Dias and Robinson are working on fundraising to support victims' near-term needs
The organization is pressing to change key gun laws and advocating for racial justice

Why it matters

This case represents part of a larger pattern of gun violence and racial violence in America, particularly affecting Black individuals in seemingly mundane situations, similar to the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin. With over 11,000 gun deaths in the United States so far this year, the Standing in the Gap Fund addresses a critical need for immediate family support and long-term systemic change. The organization's dual approach of providing direct aid to grieving families while advocating against laws like Stand Your Ground (which have been linked to increased homicide rates) demonstrates how personal tragedy can catalyze meaningful community action. The initiative transforms grief into collective care, ensuring families affected by gun violence don't face their challenges alone while working toward preventing future tragedies.

What's next

The Standing in the Gap Fund aims to begin providing grants to families and political organizers by 2027
The organization will continue offering rapid-response grants to families after gun attacks
Ongoing legislative advocacy work challenging Stand Your Ground laws
Continued investment in arts and storytelling projects focused on justice and healing

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint