COLUMBUS, Ohio — One of the two men accused of beating a man to death during a fight in the Short North over a year ago was found guilty on two murder charges on Friday.
Dwayne Cummings was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison after he was involved in a fight that killed 37-year-old Gregory Coleman Jr. outside of Julep on Sept. 5, 2022. The other suspect in the fight, Chrystian Foster, is also charged with murder.
According to the prosecutor's office, Cummings sucker punched Coleman. Surveillance video shows Cummings punching Coleman in the face and Coleman was then knocked back onto the road.
Both men reportedly continued to beat Coleman while he was unconscious on the ground. He died 12 days after the beating.
Coleman's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit last month against the suspects and Julep, where the fight occurred. Cummings and Foster were working as security at the time and the bar was attempting to keep patrons in line. The lawsuit says Foster "took issue with Coleman," confronted him and asked him to clear the sidewalk before the fight occurred.
Julep was one of multiple bars to not have their liquor licenses renewed because of violent crimes, overdoses and liquor violations.
Foster's trial date has not yet been set.
"This trial was incredibly hard for the Coleman family, but they are very grateful that justice for their son, brother and father has finally arrived. Today’s verdict is the first step toward making sure those responsible for Greg Coleman’s death are held accountable. Greg’s family has from the start been focused on both accountability and doing what they can to clean up the Short North so no other family has to live the nightmare they live every second of every day," Rex Elliott and Jonathan Bond, attorneys for the Estate of Gregory Coleman, said in a written statement.
In addition to his sentence, the court granted Cummings 500 days of jail time credit.
Amanda Kusek, Gregory’s sister spoke in court Friday. She said losing her brother has impacted her greatly.
“I want to thank the jury first and foremost for my little brother. He was so amazing, he didn’t deserve this. This is such a tragedy for everyone,” said Kusek.