Did a homicide kill the Alehouse?

Two years ago, downtown Halifax was abuzz with excitement as the city prepared to host the men’s World Junior Hockey Championship. However, the festive atmosphere was shattered when tragedy struck on Christmas Eve. Ryan Sawyer, a 31-year-old Ajax, Ont. native, left his parents’ Fall River home to watch a pre-tournament game with his brother and never returned.

Police found Sawyer “unresponsive” outside the Halifax Alehouse in the early morning hours of Dec 24, his body near the corner of Prince and Brunswick Streets. Despite efforts by first responders to save him, Sawyer was pronounced dead at the QEII hospital later that morning. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service ruled his death a homicide, leaving his family devastated and seeking closure.

Eight months after Sawyer’s death, 38-year-old Alexander Pishori Levy—a bouncer at the Alehouse at the time of the incident—turned himself in to Halifax police on charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence. Levy pleaded not guilty to both charges in January 2024, and his trial is set to resume next September.

As the legal proceedings continue, the Alehouse has faced its own troubles. The bar recently completed a forced 45-day closure due to charges under the Liquor Control Act, leading to speculation that it may have shut its doors permanently.

The events of that fateful night remain shrouded in mystery. Police responded to a call about a “disturbance” outside the Alehouse and found Sawyer on the sidewalk, unresponsive. The circumstances surrounding the incident, including who else was involved and what prompted the disturbance, have not been fully explained by authorities.

Sawyer’s twin brother, Kyle, has filed a lawsuit against the Alehouse, alleging that he was assaulted by bouncers on the same night as his brother’s death. The lawsuit claims that the bar failed to adequately train its security staff and seeks damages for the injuries Kyle sustained.

This is not the first time the Alehouse has faced accusations of violence. Previous incidents involving alleged assaults by bouncers have resulted in lawsuits against the bar, including one filed by Addisiane Freeland in 2022.

As Sawyer’s family seeks justice for their son’s death, they have also filed a lawsuit against the Alehouse and Levy on behalf of Ryan’s estate. The lawsuit alleges that Levy intentionally assaulted Ryan, leading to his death, and accuses the bar’s owners of negligence in hiring and training security staff.

Despite repeated attempts to contact the Alehouse’s ownership and management for comment on the allegations of staff violence, they have remained silent. The bar’s lawyers have also declined to provide a statement on the matter.

As the legal battles continue and the fate of the Alehouse hangs in the balance, the memory of Ryan Sawyer lives on in the hearts of his family and loved ones, who continue to seek answers and closure in the wake of his tragic death.