Slain man's friend recounts night of fatal Joker's Pub shooting in May 2024

ELYRIA — Lewis Wade testified Monday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court about the night he watched his friend Jason Kleinman die inside Joker's Pub and Grub in Columbia Township. Kleinman, 49, of Olmsted Falls was hitting Mark Stewart when James Stewart, 42, of Brunswick pulled out a 9mm handgun he had retrieved from his truck only minutes earlier and fired three shots. Two bullets hit Kleinman, including one in the head. He died at the scene. James and Mark Stewart are brothers who had been drinking at that bar and another that day when they got into a disagreement with Wade and Kleinman. That's when James Stewart tried to fistfight Wade, a much larger man. When he pulled a gun, James Stewart "overextended" the use of force "nowhere near in correlation" to the appropriate response to a fistfight, Wade testified in Judge Chris Cook's courtroom. "There was no need for a firearm to be introduced" into the situation, Wade testified. James Stewart has pleaded not guilty by reason of self-defense or defense of others to murder, felonious assault, illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises, firearms specifications and misdemeanor charges of assault and using weapons while intoxicated. Wade testified that James Stewart was a "child," a "b*tch" and "a wimp" for intentionally stepping on Wade's foot, trying to fistfight him, then pulling a gun and shooting it in a crowded bar full of people who were just out to have a good time on a Friday night. Wade, a 6-foot, 6-inch tall, 330-pound private security guard and construction worker, testified that he and his girlfriend Heather White walked into Joker's Pub and Grub in Columbia Township on May 10, 2024, to have a relaxing night out. Wade testified he's not a violent man, but imposing enough to make people think twice about messing with him. He referred to himself as "green giant" — in a sing-song way, like the commercial for the vegetable brand of the same name — and as "a brick wall." The couple met up with Kleinman, whom Wade had known for several months and and who shared his love of motorcycles. Wade testified that James Stewart sat next to White at the bar and tried to hit on her. The Lorain County Prosecutor's Office said James Stewart had consumed 12 to 15 alcoholic drinks over eight hours at two different bars including Joker's by this time, just before 11 p.m. White got up and moved, he said. Shortly after, James Stewart's brother Mark Stewart was trying to use the TouchTunes jukebox next to the table where Kleinman and Wade were when the two men began to believe he was eavesdropping on their conversation, Wade testified. To "smoke out" Mark Stewart for eavesdropping, Kleinman asked Wade what would happen if someone used the N-word racial slur in the bar. Wade, who is Black, testified that no one said the N-word at all that night, but Kleinman's comment got Mark Stewart's attention. He said Mark Stewart appeared shocked, immediately denied saying the word and said he wasn't a racist. Knowing Kleinman was just messing with him, Wade testified he told Mark Stewart he knew he hadn't, and wished him a good night. Wade then testified he heard James Stewart tell Mark Stewart "It's 2024, this is America, you can say whatever you want." Wade thought that statement was racist, but "knew better" than to let it bother him, he testified. Video showed James Stewart leave the bar. The Lorain County Prosecutor's Office alleges he went to his truck, got his handgun, went back inside, showed the gun to his uncle Danny Talmadge and confronted Wade. James Stewart "stepped on my shoe, like a child," Wade testified, and made a comment about having a gun, "40 rounds" of ammunition and about taking care of the situation "right now." Wade said he went to walk out the back door "because I realized there's a problem" but that James Stewart followed him close behind. When Wade turned around at the back door, video showed James Stewart nearly running right into the back of him. Defense attorney Michael Stepanik has accused Wade of headbutting his client James Stewart to start a fight. He did so again on Monday, thought Wade denied it (From the bench, Cook said it is up to the jury to decide the facts of the case). Wade testified if he had headbutted James Stewart, the smaller man would have "been bleeding, not looking at me like a deer in headlights." James Stewart threw four punches at Wade, but none made contact. Wade testified James Stewart was just "putting on a show." Bartender Cindy Austin yelled at the men to take the fight outside, but Wade testified he wasn't going to do that. As Talmadge and other patrons got in between James Stewart and Wade to break them up, James Stewart backed away from the fight headed for the front door. Left in between were Kleinman, Mark Stewart and other patrons. Video then showed Kleinman punch Mark Stewart from behind multiple times, what Stepanik told the jury were "sucker punches." That's when James Stewart pulled his gun and fired, before he pushed his way out the back door of the bar and drove off in his truck, according to testimony. Stepanik's cross-examination of Wade was chaotic, with the two men bickering over questions and phrasing and Wade giving long-winded answers to the defense attorney's questions. Cook had to admonish Stepanik to ask simpler questions, and told Wade to answer "yes" or "no" and not narrate his answers. Stepanik tried to paint Wade as a violent convicted felon — Wade has a felony criminal record in both Lorain County and Cuyahoga County, according to testimony and court records — who told sheriff's deputies he wears so many rings they "might as well be brass knuckles." Wade testified he wasn't the reason for the trial: That was James Stewart, who fired a gun in a crowded bar. "Everyone ran because your client started shooting," Wade told Stepanik. "Shooting a firearm in a public place for no reason at all." Stepanik's cross-examination of Wade will conclude today. Prosecutors are expected to call about a dozen more witnesses. Cook said he hoped to send the case to the jury on Thursday. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com