OCALA, Fla. (TCN) — A 69-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting his two roommates amid an argument over ice cream.
According to the Ocala Police Department, Mark Robinson was arrested on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the Oct. 28 double homicide of his male roommates, ages 78 and 69.
Chief Mike Balken of the Ocala Police said police responded to a home for a report of a verbal disturbance stemming from “someone eating someone’s ice cream, if you can believe that.” Police left the scene after interviewing the three men. About an hour later, they received multiple 911 calls from the same location reporting shots had been fired.
Robinson surrendered to police and immediately claimed he had shot both of his roommates, according to Balken. Both victims died from their wounds. Robinson claimed his roommates went for a walk after the police interviewed them and he was afraid something would happen when they got back, so he retrieved his shotgun.
According to Balken, Robinson claimed a second altercation occurred when roommates got back from their walk, and one of his roommates was armed with a knife. He allegedly shot the armed roommate because he felt threatened and shot the other in the back as he tried to flee. Detectives established probable cause to arrest Robinson on one count of second-degree murder. According to Balken, additional charges are possible, as the investigation is active.
Robinson claimed self-defense for allegedly killing his armed roommate, and WOFL reports the death is under investigation.
Police had responded to the residence three times this year due to disturbances between Robinson and his roommates and neighbors, WOFL reports. Robinson allegedly has alcohol consumption issues and was described by police as an “angry old man” with a “dysfunctional living arrangement” with his roommates.
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