Witnesses describe chaotic scene in fatal 2024 Columbia Township bar shooting

ELYRIA — Chaos broke out inside Joker's Pub and Grub on Sprague Road in Columbia Township on May 10, 2024, as fists and bullets flew after a fight that left an Olmsted Falls man dead. Shouts of "He's got a gun!" and "F--- 'em up!" and "Shoot his a--!" could be heard on bar surveillance video from the night that James A. Stewart Jr. is accused of shooting and killing Jason Kleinman following at least two fistfights inside the bar. The presentation of the video came as testimony continued Thursday in Stewart's trial on charges of murder, felonious assault, illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises and related specifications. One witness Thursday described a fight between Stewart and Lewis Wade as a "fake fight" in which neither Stewart nor Wade landed any punches. She also testified she heard Stewart suggest he was carrying a gun and tried to stop him from shooting at Wade, her boyfriend. Stewart, 42, of Brunswick, didn't hit Wade but instead shot Kleinman, 49, of Olmsted Falls, in the arm and head, killing him as he punched James Stewart's brother, Mark. Start to finish, the fight that led to the shooting lasted about 35 seconds, Chief Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Chris Pierre said Thursday in court. James Stewart, who is free on bond, has pleaded not guilty by reason of self-defense or defense of others to the more serious charges he faces. He also faces misdemeanor charges of assault and using weapons while intoxicated. Prosecutors and the defense have presented two different scenarios that led to Kleinman's shooting death. The prosecution alleges it was because James Stewart, Mark Stewart and their uncle had spent the day drinking at Joker's and another bar in North Olmsted, before the Stewarts got upset because they were told by Kleinman and Wade, who is Black, that they couldn't use a racial slur for Black people in the bar. The defense alleges Kleinman and Wade were confronting Mark Stewart, James Stewart's brother, before Wade assaulted James Stewart and Kleinman assaulted Mark Stewart. James Stewart shot Kleinman in defense of himself and his brother, defense attorney Michael Stepanik told the jury in his opening statement. On Thursday, James and Mark Stewart's uncle, Danny Talmadge, testified that the three men had been drinking since at least 3 p.m. that day. According to testimony Wednesday and Thursday, James Stewart's alcohol intake in the eight hours before the shooting was 12 to 15 drinks, while Mark Stewart had nine to 12 alcoholic drinks and Talmadge had six before switching to soft drinks. The shooting happened just before 11 p.m., sending bar patrons running for the exits. Several people testified they ran out into the parking lot before going back inside to check on Kleinman, who died at the scene. Video and eyewitness testimony said that James Stewart "flashed" his gun at his uncle after retrieving it from his truck following his first confrontation with Wade. Testimony was that either Wade was "messing with" Mark and James Stewart that night or that the brothers had started the conflict after Wade and Kleinman asked them not to use the "N-word." Wade's girlfriend, Heather White, testified that James Stewart stepped on Wade's foot, escalating the confrontation before Wade head-butted James Stewart. The two squared up and traded punches in what she called a "fake fight." White testified that the 6-foot-6 tall Wade doesn't really fight because he knows how big he his and the damage he could do. "From my perspective, it looked like he was swinging and missing on purpose," she said. The men had been "bickering," but White testified she wasn't paying attention to what they were saying until it got physical. She testified she figured out James Stewart had a gun when she heard him tell his brother, "I got 40 rounds right now that could take care of this." That made her worried for Wade's safety, she testified, since he was the only Black man in the bar. White also testified she told Wade not to go outside and confront James Stewart because he obviously had a gun from his comment. She testified that when Wade fought James Stewart, the two separated briefly as patrons tried to break them up. That's when Kleinman stepped in, hitting Mark Stewart from behind, and James Stewart pulled his gun and fired three shots. White testified she tried to grab James Stewart by the arms to stop him from shooting, but "I wasn't strong enough." She ran after hearing the shots, she testified. After the shooting, Talmadge and James Stewart drove off in James Stewart's truck. Talmadge testified his nephew "seemed scared." "I made him call 911 after I got him to pull over," Talmadge testified about that night. James Stewart "was freaked out," his uncle testified. "'I don't know what to do'" and "'I f-----d up,'" James Stewart told his uncle, who was visiting from Florida, according to the older man's testimony. James Stewart then flagged down a passing Lorain County deputy sheriff, his uncle testified. "I relive the nightmare every night," Talmadge testified. Kristopher Gaspar testified Thursday he tried to play peacemaker when the fighting started. The gunshots left his ears ringing, and when he realized Kleinman had been shot and was lying in a pool of blood, he screamed for someone to call 911. Guns and fighting don't belong in a bar, he said. "Don't like the person? Get up and leave," Gaspar testified. One of the 14 jurors chosen Tuesday was excused from service Thursday due a child care matter. Twelve of the remaining 13 will decide James Stewart's guilt or innocence. Due to conflicts in Judge Chris Cook's schedule today and Monday morning, testimony will resume at noon Monday, he said. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.