Florida Landlord Accused of Killing 2 Tenants With Shotgun After Dispute Over Missing Ice Cream

A disagreement over something as ordinary as ice cream allegedly ended in a deadly double shooting inside a Florida home, leaving two elderly tenants dead and their 69-year-old landlord facing a murder charge. Mark Lynn Robinson is accused of fatally shooting his roommates, Charles Etheze, 69, and Michael Menkes, 78, with a 12-gauge shotgun in Ocala. Police say the confrontation began over one of the men allegedly eating Robinson’s ice cream, but escalated into violence less than an hour after officers had already been called to the property.

The first police response came at approximately 4:16 p.m. on October 28, 2026, after authorities received a report of a disturbance at a home in the 1000 block of Southeast Eighth Street. Officers spoke with the three men, who were all living at the residence, and learned that the disagreement centered on the missing ice cream. Police managed to calm the situation, and Etheze and Menkes reportedly decided to leave the house for a walk. At the time, officers found no criminal violation and believed the dispute had been resolved.

But the situation allegedly took a deadly turn when the two tenants returned. According to Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken, Robinson told investigators that he feared another confrontation and retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun from his bedroom, placing it on the living room couch. When the men came back, another argument reportedly broke out. Robinson allegedly said that Etheze had armed himself with a knife and that both men rushed toward him. He claimed he felt threatened before firing multiple shots at Etheze. Investigators are still examining his account and whether the shooting could legally qualify as self-defense.

Police say Menkes was also shot as he attempted to escape from the house. According to the preliminary investigation, he was struck in the back while trying to flee. Officers responding to a second emergency call shortly after 5 p.m. found one victim outside the home with a gunshot wound and discovered the other inside. Both men were pronounced dead. Robinson reportedly surrendered to officers and immediately acknowledged that he had shot his two roommates.

Investigators also learned that Robinson had allegedly been drinking before the shooting. According to local reports, he told police he had consumed approximately one and a half bottles of white wine. Chief Balken described the household as a dysfunctional living arrangement and said officers had been called to the residence three times during the previous year. He also characterized Robinson as someone who frequently had conflicts with his roommates and neighbors. Police believe the original argument was triggered by one of the tenants eating Robinson’s ice cream, and the suspects reportedly referred to themselves as the “ice cream bandits” when they returned.

Robinson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Menkes’ death. Authorities said the investigation into Etheze’s shooting remains ongoing, particularly because Robinson has claimed he acted in self-defense. Additional charges may be considered as investigators review the evidence. Robinson made his first court appearance on Friday and is scheduled to return for another hearing on December 1, 2026. The case remains pending, and the allegations against him have not yet been proven in court. What began as a household disagreement over a frozen dessert has now become a double-homicide investigation involving two elderly victims and a landlord accused of using a shotgun against the people renting rooms in his home.

Sources:

• Law&Crime