A Michigan man is facing second-degree murder charges after an argument over a fast-food meal turned fatal. Mark Newsome, 54, stands accused of beating his 72-year-old roommate, Dale Mitchell, to death following a dispute over a Taco Bell order. The incident occurred on January 31, 2024 in Roseville, Michigan.
According to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Newsome and Mitchell were residents of a boarding house on Waldorf Street. On the night of the incident, an argument erupted between the two men over the food order. The disagreement quickly intensified into a physical confrontation, with Newsome allegedly punching Mitchell in the head multiple times. The injuries proved fatal, and Mitchell succumbed to them shortly thereafter.
The details of the incident were confirmed by two other roommates, Bob McQuade and Larry Melton, who spoke to a local news outlet in February. “Oh God, it scared the hell out of me; it really did,” McQuade recalled. “There was blood all over upstairs.” Both McQuade and Melton were reportedly asleep when the altercation began but were awakened by the sounds of the fight.
Melton provided an account of the moments leading up to Mitchell’s death. “‘Why are you doing this?’ Mitchell kept saying. “‘Leave me alone. Stop, please stop.’ Those were the words I heard,” he recalled. McQuade expressed his disbelief over the situation, describing it as “senseless” and emphasizing his shock that a disagreement over food could lead to such a violent outcome. “I trusted Mark as my friend. I could never believe he would’ve done something like that,” he added.
Prosecutors have asserted that Newsome’s actions were deliberate and fatal. “We are dedicated to ensuring justice is delivered for the victim and his family,” stated Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. He also discussed the broader implications of the situation, remarking, “If we’re at a point where conflicts over something as trivial as food lead to violence and death, there must be more to life than that. It would have been much easier just to walk away.”
Newsome was officially charged with second-degree murder on June 18 and is currently held without bond at the Macomb County Jail. Roseville District Court Judge Joseph Boedeker transferred him to Macomb County Circuit Court, and he is set for arraignment on July 2. Currently, court records show that he has not entered a plea, and Newsome’s attorney has not responded to requests for comment.
The victim, Dale Mitchell, is remembered by those who knew him as a “kind, gentle soul.” His health had been deteriorating in recent years, making the violent end to his life all the more heartbreaking for his friends and family. A memorial service was held at Friends Tavern in Eastpointe, Michigan, where Mitchell was a regular patron.