BREAKING | Ashland County Prosecutor charges 24‑year‑old Robert Palermo with aggravated murder in connection with the New Year’s Day shooting

ASHLAND COUNTY, OH Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell has announced that a criminal complaint has been filed charging 24‑year‑old Robert Palermo of Ashland with aggravated murder in connection with the New Year’s Day shooting death of 61‑year‑old John “Lefty” Grehn. The case is proceeding in Ashland County Common Pleas Court, with Judge David Stimpert presiding.​

Charge and potential penalties

According to Tunnell, the complaint alleges that Palermo “purposely, and with prior planning” caused Grehn’s death, supporting a charge of aggravated murder under Ohio law. The offense, as charged, carries a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, though prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty at this time.​

Authorities have indicated that the ongoing investigation has not uncovered any statutory aggravating circumstances required under Ohio’s death‑penalty provisions to pursue capital punishment. The matter will be presented to an Ashland County grand jury for formal indictment at a later date, following completion of additional investigative steps.​

New Year’s Day shooting on East Liberty Street

PreviousNext

1234

The charge stems from a shooting that occurred on the afternoon of January 1, 2026, at a residence in the 100 block of East Liberty Street in the City of Ashland. Ashland Police Division officers and Ashland Fire Division personnel were dispatched to the home at about 2:15 p.m. after a 911 call from a resident, identified as John Palermo, who was not injured.​

First responders found Grehn deceased inside the residence, and investigators believe his death resulted from multiple gunshot wounds. Police took Robert Palermo into custody at the scene without incident, and he is currently being held at the Ashland County Jail pending further proceedings.​

Investigation and autopsy

Ashland County Coroner Dr. Dale Thomae has ordered Grehn’s body transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for a full autopsy, a standard step in homicide investigations of this kind. Autopsy results remain pending and are expected to provide additional detail about the cause and manner of death.​

The investigation is being led by the Ashland Police Division with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, the Ashland County Coroner’s Office, and the Ashland Fire Department. Detectives executed a search warrant at the residence and collected evidence related to the shooting; officials also confirmed that a dog found in the home was taken into custody by the Ashland County Humane Society and was not harmed.​

Prosecutor’s statement and bond hearing

Tunnell described the case as a “profound and tragic loss of life” and offered condolences to Grehn’s family, friends, and all who knew him. He emphasized that, despite the gravity of the allegation, Ashland “is and always will be a safe place to live and to raise a family,” urging the community to focus on the swift, professional response of local safety forces rather than “the negative aspects of one human’s poor choices.”​

During a bond hearing, prosecutors outlined preliminary details suggesting the shooting followed an argument in the home and requested a high bond; a $2 million bond was ultimately set, and counsel was appointed for Palermo. Future hearings, including grand jury consideration, will determine how the case proceeds.​

Presumption of innocence

Authorities stress that the filing of a criminal complaint is an allegation only and does not constitute proof of guilt. Like all criminal defendants, Robert Palermo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, and further information will be released as appropriate while protecting the integrity of the judicial process.​