Victim identified in fatal Columbia Township bar shooting

The man killed in a shooting at Jokers Pub and Grub in Columbia Township has been identified as Jason Kleinman of Avon Lake. Lorain County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller said Monday that Kleinman, 49, was killed by a gunshot wound suffered at the bar on Friday. Lorain County sheriff's deputies responded Friday to a report of gunfire at Jokers at 24517 Sprague Road. Deputies discovered a man, later identified as Kleinman, dead at the scene. James Arthur Stewart, 40, of Brunswick, was arrested for the shooting. He has been charged with murder, felonious assault and possession of a firearm in liquor permit premises, all felonies, as well as misdemeanor using weapons while intoxicated. A news release from the sheriff's office said that a fight had broken out inside the bar which led to Stewart allegedly drawing a handgun and shooting Kleinman. The sheriff's office initially said in a release that Stewart was from Olmsted Township, but court records on Monday said that he is a resident of Brunswick. Stewart was arraigned on Monday morning and is set to appear before Elyria Municipal Judge Gary Bennett at 2 p.m. today. He was being held in the Lorain County Jail on a $1.5 million bond. A verified GoFundMe has been created to help pay for his memorial expenses, a spokesperson for the fundraising website announced in an email to The Chronicle-Telegram. "While trying to separate the two patrons, Jason was shot and fatally wounded leaving behind a devastated family and community of friends," the fundraiser reads. "Jason leaves behind his six children David, Jayden, Talan, Dante, Skyler and Alec. His parents, Jeff and Nancy are faced with the expense of traveling to Ohio with the rest of their Florida family to plan and attend his funeral." Any money collected above and beyond the $9,000 being sought for travel and funeral expenses will be distributed to his children, according to the fundraiser. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.