Ohio Man Charged with Fatally Shooting 61-Year-Old Roommate Over Dog Dispute

An Ohio man has tragically lost his life following a New Year’s Day dispute with his roommate concerning house rules.

Robert Palermo, 24, faces aggravated murder charges linked to the death of John “Lefty” Grehn, 61, a longtime family friend. The confrontation reportedly took place on Thursday, January 1, after the two disagreed on whether Grehn’s dog should be permitted inside the residence.

After the initial argument seemed to calm, Palermo allegedly retrieved a gun from its lock box, reigniting the conflict, which ultimately led to Grehn being shot multiple times, according to Law & Crime. Robert’s father, John Palermo, who owns the home, called 911 to report the shooting, as indicated by Ashland Source. Unfortunately, Grehn was declared dead by the time law enforcement arrived at approximately 2:15 p.m. on that day.

“Mr. Palermo was taken into custody at the scene ‘without incident and is currently being held at the Ashland County Jail,’” stated a press release from the Ashland Police Department.

According to the criminal complaint, Palermo is accused of “purposely, and with prior calculation and design,” resulting in Grehn’s death. If found guilty, the 24-year-old could face life imprisonment without the chance of parole. However, Ashland County prosecuting attorney Christopher R. Tunnell has confirmed that the death penalty will not be sought at this time.

“The ongoing investigation has not uncovered evidence of any aggravating circumstances outlined in [Ohio Law], which would be necessary for a death sentence to be considered,” the press release stated.

Palermo is presently held at the Ashland County Jail with a bail set at $2 million. He had no known prior criminal history before this incident.

As for Grehn, his cause of death has been identified as a gunshot wound. His remains were sent to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office earlier this month for further analysis, which is considered “standard procedure” in homicide investigations. Results of the autopsy are still pending.

On Friday, January 2, Tunnell released a statement regarding the incident, describing it as a “profound and tragic loss of life.”

“Our thoughts are with Mr. Grehn’s family, friends, and all who cared for him as they navigate this unimaginable tragedy,” he added. “Despite the grim nature of this incident, Ashland remains a safe community for living and raising families.”

“While unfortunate events can occur, our attention should be on the prompt and positive action of our safety services, rather than the negative impact of one individual’s poor choices,” Tunnell continued. “I commend the Ashland Police Division for their swift, professional, and thorough response, along with the support of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ashland County Coroner’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ashland Fire Department.”

The investigation into Grehn’s death is still underway.