COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sept. 5th, 2022, is a date that will never leave Geraldine Coleman.
"It's very hard…very, very hard,” she said. For the first time 10TV spoke with her after the death of her son Gregory Coleman Jr.
On Sept. 5 of last year, Gregory was beaten to death outside of Julep on North High Street. Two men have since been arrested and charged for his death, Dwayne Cummings and Chrystian Foster.
Gregory’s mother said what was the hardest part was watching the video of her son laying there helpless.
"It was so hard to watch our only son just get beat down,” she said. “I wish someone could've helped but I also wonder why...what did he do to y’all?”
On Friday, Gregory’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owner of Julep and the two men charged for his death.
In an announcement made Friday, attorney Rex Elliot said that the family of 37-year-old Gregory Coleman is suing the owners of Julep and the suspects, 28-year-old Dwayne Cummings and 32-year-old Chrystian Foster, for damages related to Coleman’s death on Sept. 5, 2022. They are seeking damages in excess of $25,000.
"I feel sorry for their mother too because not only have I lost my son she's lost them too. Because I want them to pay for what they did,” she said.
Gregory was a son, a brother, a father. No matter what happens, Geraldine said the pain she feels will never leave her.
That’s why she wanted to talk. To hope that this story reaches someone so this never happens to anyone else again.
"If anything can be done if anyone out there can understand and what had happened don't let this happen to anyone else,” she said.
The bar, Julep, was one of 12 establishments that didn't have its liquor license renewed last month by the city because of violent crimes, overdoses or liquor violations.