A neighborhood dispute over stolen ice cream escalated into a deadly shooting within the span of a single hour, leaving two men dead and their 69-year-old landlord facing serious criminal charges.
Mark Lynn Robinson faces second-degree murder charges in connection with the fatal shootings of his roommates, Charles Etheze, 69, and Michael Menkes, 78, according to the Ocala Police Department.
The incident began at approximately 4:16 p.m. on October 28, when patrol officers responded to a residence on the 1000 block of Southeast Eighth Street to address a heated domestic dispute. Upon arrival, officers found the three elderly roommates engaged in a loud argument over missing food.
“The dispute really had to do with someone eating someone else’s ice cream, if you can believe that,” Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said. “In the end, I have a very young officer trying to calm three 60- to 70-year-old men down over ice cream. It’s a ridiculous situation to happen anywhere, much less in Ocala.”
Finding no violation of law, the responding officer successfully de-escalated the situation. To allow tensions to subside, Etheze and Menkes left the residence on foot and walked through the surrounding neighborhood.
During their absence, investigators allege that Robinson entered his bedroom, retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun, and placed it on the living room couch. Robinson later told detectives he felt threatened and wanted the weapon within reach for when the two men returned.
At approximately 5:15 p.m., the two roommates came back from their walk. According to Robinson, one of them entered the house and jokingly referred to themselves as the “ice cream bandits.”
A second confrontation erupted immediately. Robinson told police that Etheze produced a knife and both men rushed toward him, leading him to seize the shotgun and fire multiple rounds at Etheze in what he described as self-defense.
However, investigators say the physical evidence presented a markedly different account regarding Menkes. As the shooting unfolded, the 78-year-old turned and attempted to flee. Robinson allegedly shot him in the back as he ran toward the exit.
Minutes later, emergency dispatchers received multiple frantic calls reporting active gunfire at the location. The first officers to arrive found Menkes collapsed on the front lawn suffering from a critical gunshot wound. Robinson emerged from the residence with his hands raised and surrendered without resistance, informing officers that he had shot both of his roommates.
Inside the home, officers found Etheze dead on the floor. Menkes succumbed to his injuries shortly after emergency personnel reached him.
Chief Balken stated that evidence indicating Menkes was fleeing at the time he was struck established the probable cause for the initial second-degree murder charge. Investigators indicated that additional charges remain probable as detectives continue to examine the crime scene and evaluate Robinson’s self-defense claims concerning Etheze.
Balken further noted that the residence had become a familiar address for local law enforcement, with officers dispatched to the location three times over the preceding year. He described Robinson as an “angry old man with some alcohol problems” who had been living in an increasingly volatile environment.
“He’s been cantankerous in the neighborhood, to say the least,” Balken said, noting that Robinson had repeatedly clashed with both his tenants and neighboring residents.
Investigators later confirmed that, despite the fatal outcome, they believe one of the victims had in fact consumed Robinson’s ice cream.
Robinson appeared before a judge on Friday and remains in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 1.
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