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Florida man, 69, allegedly kills his two roommates during fight over ice cream: ‘Ridiculous situation’
NY Post ^ | 11/04/2026 | Natalie O'Neill

Posted on 11/05/2026 9:43:40 AM PST by simpson96

That’s real cold-blooded.

A fight between elderly roommates over ice cream in Florida got so heated, one of the men allegedly shot his two tenants to death, according to cops.

“It’s a ridiculous situation,” Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said at a press conference Thursday.

Mark Robinson, 69, is accused of fatally shooting Charles Etheze, 69, and Michael Menkes, 78, at his home in Ocala on Oct. 28 — after things got frosty between the men, according to police.

The feud first broke out when one of the roommates accused another of eating his ice cream, sparking a spat that led one of them to call police, Balken said.

“After interviewing these three men, our officers determined the dispute really had something to do with someone eating someone else’s ice cream, if you can believe that,” Balken said.

A police officer visited the home — owned by Robinson, who lived there and rented rooms to the two other men — and “peace was restored,” Balken said.

But when the argument flared up again roughly an hour later, Robinson allegedly shot one of his tenants in his front yard, and the other inside the home, according to police.

Robinson allegedly told cops he acted in self-defense after one of the men rushed towards him with a knife, according to police.

Menkes, however, was allegedly shot by Robinson in the back as he was running away, Balken said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: 2timothy3verses1to4; charlesetheze; florida; floridaman; markrobinson; matthew24verse12; michaelmenkes; mikebalken; natalieoneill; ocala; periloustimes; wantonviolence

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1 posted on 11/05/2026 9:43:40 AM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

As long as it wasn’t Ben and Jerry’s or Haagen Das.


2 posted on 11/05/2026 9:44:43 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The EU is the old Soviet Union dressed in Western clothes." --Mikhail Gorbachev)
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To: simpson96

3 posted on 11/05/2026 9:47:08 AM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: simpson96

Alcohol may have been involved.


4 posted on 11/05/2026 9:47:11 AM PST by GSWarrior
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To: simpson96

The article does not say what brand of ice cream. I might be understanding of the shooter if was Blue Bell, but I don’t think they sell that in Florida.


5 posted on 11/05/2026 9:50:19 AM PST by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: simpson96

What flavor?


6 posted on 11/05/2026 9:50:36 AM PST by ComputerGuy
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To: simpson96

Mark has some Rocky Road ahead.


7 posted on 11/05/2026 9:52:47 AM PST by blackdog (The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.)
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To: simpson96

I need to know more before I can make a judgement about this. Was there chocolate syrup or sprinkles involved?


8 posted on 11/05/2026 9:54:16 AM PST by GreenHornet
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To: simpson96

Florida Man don’t play.


9 posted on 11/05/2026 9:54:22 AM PST by bakeneko
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To: GSWarrior

I think “ice cream” may have been code for meth in that household.


10 posted on 11/05/2026 9:54:38 AM PST by blackdog (The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.)
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To: simpson96

"I can relate."


11 posted on 11/05/2026 9:54:58 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
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To: GSWarrior

“Alcohol may have been involved.”

When your booking photo has you without a shirt on, alcohol is almost always involved.


12 posted on 11/05/2026 9:54:59 AM PST by Quality_Not_Quantity ("...for the sake of His name." Psalm 23:3)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Dont ever get into a fight with an old man with nothing to lose.


13 posted on 11/05/2026 9:56:24 AM PST by know.your.why (Matt 6:5)
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To: simpson96

Wow, I really thought he would have been black. That’s how they usually resolve their differences.


14 posted on 11/05/2026 9:58:59 AM PST by fwdude (Why is there a "far/radical right," but damned if they'll admit that there is a far/radical left)
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To: Dr. Sivana

Maybe it was lactose free….


15 posted on 11/05/2026 10:02:52 AM PST by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: simpson96

a) what flavor? B) why do I think these old guys were all sex offenders livin’ together cause they have to. Pic of the one guy sure looks sus.


16 posted on 11/05/2026 10:08:01 AM PST by ronniesgal (can FR please get a "like" button and a "block" button? Please.)
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To: simpson96

We could leave a $100 bill on the table at the fire station and come back next shift and there would be a note where to find it. Leave ice cream in the freezer and you could guarantee it was gone whether you marked it or not.

We went in Walmart one day and noticed that they had dog ice cream. Do you think someone would eat this if we left it in the freezer? Yep!


17 posted on 11/05/2026 10:08:14 AM PST by Clay Moore (My pistol identifies as a cordless hole punch. )
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To: simpson96
All-Flavors
18 posted on 11/05/2026 10:08:27 AM PST by PGR88
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To: simpson96
Which is why there was never a TV show called The Golden Boys, about a retired Florida homeowner, and his two semi-retired roommates.
19 posted on 11/05/2026 10:16:58 AM PST by Pilsner
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To: simpson96

They knew the rules.


20 posted on 11/05/2026 10:19:55 AM PST by T.B. Yoits
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