COLUMBUS, Ohio — One of the two men charged in the beating death of a Short North bartender nearly two years ago was found guilty of murder.
Chyrstian Foster appeared in Franklin County Court of Commons Pleas on Friday for his involvement in a fight outside Julep on Sept. 5, 2022, that killed 37-year-old Gregory Coleman Jr.
The other suspect in the fight, Dwayne Cummings, was found guilty of murder in February and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Foster was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
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 closed in July 2023 after it was one of multiple bars to not have their liquor licenses renewed because of violent crimes, overdoses and liquor violations.
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