John Hardaway, a 57-year-old African American man, was shot and killed on June 4, 1982, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a regular patron of the Black Horse Café at Madison and West 117th when he was shot seven times by Frank Spisak Jr., who was then 31. The shooting was part of a series of attacks in which Spisak targeted people he considered undesirable.

Spisak was arrested shortly after Hardaway’s murder. At trial in 1983 prosecutors presented evidence tying his actions to racist and anti‑Semitic motives; he was convicted on multiple counts including aggravated murder. The case drew attention for the nature of the crimes and the defendant’s background.

Hardaway’s death was one of several fatal and attempted attacks in the same spree, and it remains a stark example of violence driven by hate. If anyone knew John Hardaway or has information about that night at the Black Horse Café, please share what you remember.