COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sitting in the Short North Pint House where his son was a bartender, Gregory Coleman Sr. reflected on losing his son after he was beaten by two men outside Julep.
“This was probably the worst thing to ever happen to our family. He was such an amazing kid,” he said.
The incident happened outside Julep located on North High Street on Sept. 5, 2022. Coleman Sr. said the video of his son’s beating that was later posted online is a horror film he can’t unsee.
“They deliberately killed my son because once the kid was down, they jumped on his and punching him and eventually he died. That was murder,” he said.
Two men, 28-year-old Dwayne Cummings and 32-year-old Chrystian Foster, were charged with the murder of 37-year-old Gregory Coleman Jr.
“I would like to see them get the death penalty. I would like to see them leave this earth because people like then don't deserve to be on this earth,” Coleman Sr. said.
On Friday, Coleman’s family announced a wrongful death lawsuit had been filed against the owners of Julep, Cummings and Foster.
An attorney representing Coleman’s family claimed that Cummings and Foster were working as security guards for Julep at the time of the incident. The bar’s owner, Michael Fadi, told 10TV by phone that is not true.
“We believe strongly based on their attorney's comment in the criminal proceedings that they were working for Julep that night,” Attorney Rex Elliott said.
The lawsuit alleged that Coleman was eating near Julep and talking with patrons at the bar while Cummings and Foster were attempting to keep patrons in line.
According to the lawsuit, Foster “took issue with Coleman,” confronted him and asked him to clear the sidewalk. While Coleman and Foster were exchanging words, the video showed Cummings leaving a security stool outside of the bar.
Coleman allegedly put his hands down and attempted to remove himself from the situation and Cummings sucker punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
The lawsuit alleged that while Coleman was lying on the ground, Cummings and Foster took turns “mercilessly beating his face in.” The attorney argued no employee at Julep tried to break up the fight or render aid to Coleman.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Coleman unresponsive, partially lying on the street and sidewalk. Coleman died at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 12 days after the incident.
Coleman Jr. was a star football player in high school in Iowa and later played for Iowa State and Montana. He was also the father of a 9-year-old girl.
“Now she has to grow up without a father,” Coleman Sr. said.
Police arrested Cummings on Sept. 21 and Foster on Oct. 4. They are both charged with murder.
Both men have a history of felony convictions from domestic violence, to aggravated menacing, violating a protection order and carry a concealed weapon.
In December, Julep was one of 12 bars and businesses to not have their liquor licenses renewed because of violent crimes, overdoses or liquor violations.