Palermo Found Competent to Stand Trial in East Liberty Street Murder Case
ASHLAND, OH — Robert Palermo has been found competent to stand trial on aggravated murder and murder charges stemming from the New Year’s Day shooting death of John “Lefty” Grehn inside an East Liberty Street residence.
Ashland County Common Pleas Court Judge David R. Stimpert issued the ruling following an Aug. 24 hearing addressing Palermo’s competency and not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity status.
Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell, Palermo and defense attorney Zachuary Meranda were present for the hearing.
According to the court’s judgment entry, prosecutors and the defense stipulated to the admissibility and findings contained in a July 2 evaluation completed by the Mansfield Forensic Diagnostic Center. Based on that report, Stimpert found Palermo competent to stand trial.
A jury trial is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, in Ashland County Common Pleas Court.
The forensic evaluation reports have been sealed by the court.
Meranda requested the evaluation in a June 1 motion, writing that Palermo’s recent behavior had caused defense counsel to question Palermo’s ability to appreciate the criminal nature of the acts he is accused of committing. The defense requested evaluations of Palermo’s competency to stand trial and his sanity at the time of the alleged offenses.
A competency determination concerns whether a defendant currently understands the court proceedings and can assist in his defense. It does not determine guilt or innocence. The Aug. 24 judgment entry finds Palermo competent but does not publicly disclose the evaluation’s findings concerning his mental condition at the time of the shooting.
New Year’s Day shooting
The case began at approximately 2:15 p.m. Jan. 1, when Ashland Police Division officers and Ashland Fire Division personnel were dispatched to a residence at 102 E. Liberty St.
The 911 call was placed by Palermo’s father, John Palermo, who reported that his son had shot Grehn.
First responders located Grehn, 61, deceased inside the residence. Robert Palermo, then 24, was taken into custody at the scene without incident.
Detectives executed a search warrant at the home as part of the investigation. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted the Ashland Police Division, along with the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office and Ashland County Coroner’s Office.
The Ashland County Humane Society took custody of a dog found inside the residence. The animal was not injured.
Ashland County Coroner Dr. Dale Thomae ordered Grehn’s body transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, which prosecutors described as standard procedure in a homicide investigation.
Competing descriptions of the shooting
During the initial 911 call, John Palermo repeatedly described the shooting as an act of self-defense.
According to the call, Palermo’s father said Grehn was a longtime friend who lived in the household and had become involved in a heated argument with Robert Palermo. He told dispatchers that Grehn allegedly “went after” his son and claimed his son fired in self-defense.
The caller said he was physically unable to intervene. He also told dispatchers that the gun had been placed on a bed and unloaded following the shooting.
Palermo remained at the residence and followed instructions to come outside with his hands visible when officers arrived.
Prosecutors later presented a different account during Palermo’s initial bond hearing.
Tunnell told the court that the confrontation allegedly began as an argument over Grehn’s dog being inside the home. According to the prosecutor, the verbal argument briefly stopped when Grehn returned downstairs to the living room.
During that pause, Palermo allegedly retrieved a handgun from a locked box in an upstairs bedroom, loaded it and returned downstairs.
Tunnell said Grehn was seated on a couch when Palermo allegedly shot him multiple times.
Those allegations have not been proven in court, and the competing accounts are expected to be addressed through evidence and testimony as the case proceeds.
$2 million bond imposed
During Palermo’s initial video bond hearing, Magistrate Emily Bates advised him of the aggravated murder charge and his constitutional rights.
Palermo requested and qualified for court-appointed counsel, and attorney Donald Wick was initially appointed to represent him. Palermo is now represented by Meranda.
The court imposed a $2 million cash, surety or real-estate bond, along with a personal-recognizance bond.
Palermo had no known prior criminal history when the charges were filed.
Grand jury returns three-count indictment
Palermo was initially charged through a criminal complaint with aggravated murder. The allegations were subsequently presented to an Ashland County grand jury.
An indictment filed Jan. 9 charges Palermo with:
One count of aggravated murder, an unclassified felony.
Two counts of murder, both unclassified felonies.
Firearm specifications attached to each count.
Forfeiture specifications involving a Taurus G2C handgun.
The aggravated murder count alleges Palermo purposely and with prior calculation and design caused Grehn’s death.
The second count alleges Palermo purposely caused Grehn’s death. The third alleges Grehn died as a proximate result of Palermo committing or attempting to commit felonious assault.
A bill of particulars filed June 5 identifies the alleged weapon as a Taurus G2C handgun and lists the shooting location as 102 E. Liberty St.
When the original complaint was announced, Tunnell said the aggravated murder charge could carry a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He said the death penalty was not being sought because the investigation had not revealed evidence of an aggravating circumstance required under Ohio law to pursue a death sentence.
“This case represents a profound and tragic loss of life, and our thoughts remain with Mr. Grehn’s family, friends, and all those who loved him as they begin to process this unimaginable loss,” Tunnell said following the shooting.
Tunnell also commended the Ashland Police Division and the other public-safety agencies that assisted with the investigation.
Palermo has not been convicted of any offense. The indictment represents accusations only, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
