ASHLAND — The 24-year-old suspect behind a fatal shooting on New Year’s Day plead not guilty to aggravated murder on Tuesday.
Robert Palermo, an Ashland resident, also waived his preliminary hearing. Ashland County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Emily Bates set his next hearing for Jan. 15 at 2:30 p.m.
Palermo is accused of shooting John “Lefty” Grehn, 61, to death in his father, John Palermo’s, home on the 100 block of East Liberty Street on Jan. 1.
Ashland County Prosecutor Chris Tunnell said Grehn’s death was the result of an argument between Grehn and Robert Palermo regarding Grehn’s dog being allowed in the house.
The aggravated murder charge carries a maximum possible penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
John Palermo, Robert’s father, called authorities after the incident.
“There’s self defense in the household, shots have been fired, I think he’s dead,” he told the 911 dispatcher.
“My son had to do self defense. I couldn’t help him, I’m crippled.”
Ashland County Prosecutor Christopher Tunnell said the initial investigation revealed the argument began as verbal. During a break in the fight, Robert Palermo went upstairs to retrieve a handgun from a locked box, and “reignited the argument,” Tunnell said.
Robert Palermo then allegedly shot Grehn multiple times before John Palermo called 911 to report the shooting.
“[It was a] heated argument, he’s a big guy, he’s got one arm though, he went up to my son and I couldn’t defend him, I’m crippled,” John Palermo said in the 911 call.
John Palermo described Grehn as “a dear friend” to the dispatcher.
He told the dispatcher Robert Palermo had put the gun down and unloaded it before the officers arrived.
Ashland Police found Grehn dead inside the residence on Thursday. Robert Palermo was arrested in connection with the death of Grehn on Thursday.
Robert Palermo was charged with aggravated murder on Friday and his bond was set at $2 million later that day.
