Dominic Berlingeri Jr. was a 41-year-old man with deep family ties in his hometown of Lorain, Ohio. He was part of a large, extended family that had long been established in the community. His late father, Dominic "Nick" Berlingeri Sr., who passed away in 2017, was remembered by loved ones as a warm and caring man devoted to his family and always ready to lend a hand to a friend in need. This legacy of family connection surrounded Dominic Jr., who was a resident of Lorain and known within his community. Public records show that he had faced legal troubles in the past, having served time for convictions in both Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, and was under parole supervision at the time of his death.
The afternoon of Thursday, October 29, 2026, turned tragic in the South Lorain neighborhood.
At about 1:24 p.m., Dominic and another man, 44-year-old Josue Rodriguez, became involved in an altercation in the parking lot of Roman's Groceries, a local market located at 2957 Pearl Avenue. According to the Lorain Police Department, the initial dispute escalated. Rodriguez allegedly went to retrieve a firearm and, after another exchange with Dominic, opened fire. The burst of violence in the middle of the day left one man critically injured and sent the other fleeing from the scene.
When police officers arrived at the grocery store parking lot, they found Dominic Berlingeri Jr. on the ground, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his leg. Emergency medical services from Life Care Ambulance were dispatched to the scene, where they provided immediate aid before transporting him to Mercy Health - Lorain Hospital. Despite the urgent efforts of the medical team at the hospital, Dominic’s injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide began immediately, led by the Lorain Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. Witnesses and initial evidence pointed to Josue Rodriguez, who also went by the name Jose, as the sole suspect. Police determined that after the shooting, Rodriguez fled the scene in a red two-door 1996 Toyota Tercel, bearing a possible Ohio license plate of LAK9790. He was last seen driving eastbound through an alley located between East 29th and East 30th streets. Authorities quickly secured a warrant for his arrest on the charge of murder.
In the hours and days that followed, police launched an intensive manhunt for Rodriguez. They checked numerous locations throughout the area but were unable to locate him. Believing him to be armed and dangerous, the department issued a public alert, warning citizens not to approach or attempt to apprehend him if he was spotted. To aid in his identification, police released a detailed description of Rodriguez, noting he is a Hispanic male with several distinct tattoos. These included a pair of boxing gloves on his throat, the name “Rachel” tattooed on the back of his right hand, the name “Josue” on his left forearm, and cursive script inked above his left eye.
As of late October 2026, Josue Rodriguez remained at large, and the search for him was ongoing. The motive behind the altercation that led to the fatal shooting has not been publicly released by investigators. The case remains an active and open homicide investigation, with the primary goal being the apprehension of the suspect to answer for the murder charge. The Lorain Police Department has urged anyone who sees Rodriguez or has information regarding his whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately. Detective J. Dougherty is the lead investigator on the case and can be reached at 440-567-4592, while general tips can be directed to the Lorain Police Department at 440-204-2100.
