Police launch Manhunt for Man who Murdered 74 year old Man on Facebook Live

A man simply identified as Steve Stephens has been declared wanted for gunning down a 74 year old man somewhere in Cleveland while streaming the gruesome act live onto Facebook. In the video, he alights from his car and walks up to the old man walking home and told him to say his girlfriend’s, then […]

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Also, Like us on facebook </s> Pennsylvania State Police say the suspect in the random killing of a Cleveland retiree posted on Facebook has shot and killed himself after a brief pursuit.

State police say Steve Stephens was spotted Tuesday morning by state police in Erie County, in the state’s northwest corner. Authorities say police tried to pull Stephens over and, after a brief pursuit, he shot and killed himself.

Stephens was wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the shooting death of a 74-year-old retired man in Cleveland on Sunday.

He posted video of that shooting on Facebook. </s> Pennsylvania State Police say the suspect in the random killing of a Cleveland retiree posted on Facebook has shot and killed himself after a brief pursuit.

State police say Steve Stephens was spotted Tuesday morning by state police in Erie County, in the state’s northwest corner. Authorities say police tried to pull Stephens over and, after a brief pursuit, he shot and killed himself. Homicide suspect Steve Stephens’ vehicle has Ohio Temp tag E363630

Stephens was wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the shooting death of a 74-year-old retired man in Cleveland on Sunday.

He posted video of that shooting on Facebook.

CBS42’s sister station in Erie is on the scene. We’ll have coverage of this breaking news story on the CBS42 News at Noon. </s> CLEVELAND, Oh (CBSN) — An Ohio man claimed to be angry at a woman when, authorities say, he shot and killed an elderly passerby Sunday afternoon, then posted video of the murder on Facebook. Police urge the suspect to turn himself in. He remains at large early Monday, and police are widening their manhunt.

Law enforcement officials identify the suspect as Steve Stephens, and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams says officers were searching for him in the Cleveland area and beyond.

The victim has been identified as 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr.

Police say Stephens should be considered armed and dangerous.

Late Sunday, police issued an aggravated murder warrant for him and say in a statement he may have traveled out of state. Residents of Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan, in particular, are asked to be on the alert and told not to approach Stephens if they spot him.

Police say they are searching for a white Ford Fusion that belongs to Stephens. Chief Williams says the car was recently purchased and the plates could have been switched. Police announce the car had an Ohio temporary tag E363630.

The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

In a statement Sunday night, Facebook says the suspect did go live on the social media site at one point during the day, but not during the killing. Police earlier Sunday had said Stephens had broadcasted the murder on Facebook Live.

In the video, which appeared shaky, Stephens got out of his car and randomly targeted Godwin, who was holding a shopping bag. Stephens said the name of a woman, whom Godwin didn’t seem to recognize.

“She’s the reason that this is about to happen to you,” Stephens told Godwin before pointing a gun at him. Godwin can be seen shielding his face with the shopping bag.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson publicly urges Stephens to turn himself in to police and not to “do any more harm to anybody.”

“Any problems he is having, we can have a conversation,” Jackson says.

In a separate video, Stephens claims to have killed more than a dozen other people. Williams says police have not verified any other shootings or deaths.

“There are no more victims that we know are tied to him,” he says.

The chief also says investigators have been talking with family members and friends of Stephens, who is employed at Beech Brook, a behavioral health agency headquartered in Pepper Pike, near Cleveland.

“We are shocked and horrified and we don’t know anything more about it,” agency spokeswoman Nancy Kortemeyer tells CBS Cleveland affiliate WOIO-TV. “We hope and pray that he is arrested as soon as possible and we hope and pray for a resolution quickly.”

It was not immediately known what Stephens does for the agency. Its website says it will serve more than 18,000 children and families this year.

Joy Lane, Stephens’ longtime partner, broke her silence on the shooting in a text message to CBS News.

“We had been in a relationship for several years. I am sorry that all of this has happened. My heart & prayers goes out to the family members of the victim(s). Steve really is a nice guy… he is generous with everyone he knows. He was kind and loving to me and my children. This is a very difficult time for me and my family Please respect our privacy at this time.”

A man who spoke with WOIO says the victim was his father.

“He was a good guy. He would give you the shirt off his back,” he said. “I’m not just saying that for these cameras. … This man, right here, was a good man and I hate that he’s gone.”

WOIO obtained photos of Godwin Sr. from his family. They had Easter dinner together shortly before he was slain.

The video of the killing was up on Facebook for about three hours before it was removed. Stephens’ Facebook page also has been removed.

“This is a horrific crime and we do not allow this kind of content on Facebook,” says a spokesperson for Facebook. “We work hard to keep a safe environment on Facebook, and are in touch with law enforcement in emergencies when there are direct threats to physical safety.” </s> Steve Stephens, the suspect in the Cleveland, Ohio, Facebook killing, shot and killed himself after a brief pursuit in Erie County, Pennsylvania, this morning, the Pennsylvania State Police said.

Stephens allegedly killed 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. in Cleveland Sunday afternoon and later posted a video of the killing on Facebook, according to police.

Stephens, who was considered armed and dangerous, had been on the run since Sunday. The manhunt was nationwide and billboards around the country have been plastered with Stephens' photo.

This story is developing. Please check back for more updates. </s> Police are trying desperately to locate Facebook killer Steve Stephens, including offering a huge reward.

Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams announced this afternoon the $50,000 reward for any information leading to Stephens’ arrest. The manhunt now covers up to 5 states.

According to TMZ, Stephens’ phone pinged near Erie, PA. He’s been charged with aggravated murder after killing 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sunday in Cleveland, and uploading video of the fatal shooting. </s> Steve “Stevie Steve” Stephens, 37, could have left the state of Ohio. Police say residents in New York, Pensylvania, Michigan, and Indiana should “to be on high alert.” Steve “Stevie Steve” Stephens has admitted to killing 13 people in the last 24 hours and has uploaded the chilling videos onto Facebook. Many on social media are frantic and worried while spreading any and all information on Steve Stephen’s current whereabouts.

In his last video, Stephen said he “snapped” and will continue killing until he is caught.

Where Is Steve Stephens? Cleveland Facebook Killer Immediate Facts:

*Do not approach suspect if you see him, call 911 immediately.” Cleveland Police Chief told reporters that, “He is considered armed and dangerous, so we want people to be careful out there.”
• Steve “Stevie Steve” Stephens (goes by many aliases).
• The Cleveland Facebook video killer was last spotted in Cleveland, Ohio, driving a white Ford Fusion (with a temporary license plate). However, authorities believe Stephen recently purchased the car.
• Cleveland police are now saying Steve “Stevie Steve” Stephens may have left of Ohio.
• Six feet, one inch and weighs around 244 pounds.
• At the time of the last Facebook Live video, Stephens had a full beard.
• During the time of the video, Stephens was wearing a dark blue and gray or black striped polo shirt.

Why Authorities Believe Steve Stephens Has Left Ohio

Stephen’s cell phone ping was detected about 100 miles east of Cleveland in Erie, Pennsylvania, law enforcement in the area told CNN. On Sunday, police said Stephens “may be out of state at this time,” and authorities called on residents of Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, and Michigan “to be on alert.”

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams told reporters the suspect has been identified as Steve Stephens.

So, how did all of this begin? Well, the chilling events started on Easter Sunday. Steve Stephens, 37, is suspected of killing 74-year-old Robert Godwin on Sunday in a residential area east of Cleveland, police said.

In a separate video, Stephens fatally shot an elderly man at random and said he was killing him because of his girlfriend, Joy Lane. Stephens got out of the car, walked up to the elderly man and shot him in the head. He then placed the camera phone over the man to show his bloody body lying on the ground.

In the video below, Stephens calls a friend and said he “snapped.” In the video, Stephens claimed to have killed several other people prior to talking to his friend on the phone.

Warning: The video below contains disturbing language.

Stephens did not know the 74-year-old Godwin.

Godwin had just left his children’s home after eating an Easter meal and was walking home when he was killed, CNN affiliate WOIO reported. Robert Godwin Jr. told WOIO about his father.

Godwin’s daughter, Malisa Godwin, is having a tough time processing the events that have occurred in the last 24 hours.

The video was posted around 2 p.m. yesterday. Since the incident, Facebook has disabled access to it. A Facebook spokesperson said in a released a statement. </s> The search for Steve Stephens, the man accused of shooting a 74-year-old dead on Easter Sunday, ended Tuesday morning when he was found dead inside his car in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Stephens is accused of shooting 74-year-old Robert Godwin, Sr., and posting video of the murder to Facebook. Police expanded their search beyond state lines with belief that Stephens may have left Ohio.

Those beliefs were confirmed Tuesday around 11:10 a.m., when Pennsylvania State Police spotted Stephens' car and attempted to pull him over. Instead, Stephens shot and killed himself.

Name: Steve Stephens, 37, with a last known address in Twinsburg

Godwin was a father to 10. His family says he was taking a walk, collecting aluminum cans, on E. 93rd Street prior to Easter dinner when he was killed.

Stephens uploaded video of himself shooting Godwin to his Facebook page. He also went live on Facebook to confess to the murder. Stephens' account has been disabled and all videos are no longer visible to the public.

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What to say to children who've witnessed a traumatic event </s> Steve Stephens fatally shot himself after a brief pursuit in Pennsylvania (AFP Photo/Laurence CHU, John SAEKI )

Chicago (AFP) - The US man wanted for killing an elderly man in Ohio and then posting a video of the murder on Facebook fatally shot himself Tuesday after a brief pursuit in neighboring Pennsylvania, police said.

Steve Stephens, 37, had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt in the wake of Sunday's killing in Cleveland.

The incident was the latest grisly crime posted on Facebook, reviving questions about videos posted on the world's largest social network, and how -- or if -- they can be monitored. The footage was eventually taken down.

Stephens "was spotted this morning by PSP members in Erie County. After a brief pursuit, Stephens shot and killed himself," Pennsylvania State Police said on Twitter.

Authorities were offering up to $50,000 in rewards for information leading to his capture.

Stephens was accused of fatally shooting Robert Godwin Sr in Cleveland, Ohio as the 74-year-old grandfather was walking home from dinner on Easter Sunday.

Stephens is believed to have videotaped his actions and published it on Facebook, along with another video threatening to kill others and claiming he had already killed 13 people.

Authorities said Godwin is the only known victim despite an extensive investigation into Stephens's claims to have killed others.

Stephens's mother told CNN she called him on Sunday after learning about the video, and he had told her he was shooting people because he was "mad with his girlfriend."

Police said the woman he referred to was in a safe place.

Stephens's photo had gone up on billboards and more than 400 tips had poured in before the suspect was spotted in Pennsylvania.

"When people go on the run like this, at some point in time, they need help," Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams told a news conference earlier Tuesday, before Stephens was found dead.

The car Stephens was thought to be driving, a white Ford Fusion, did not contain GPS tracking devices, authorities said.

Members of Cleveland's clergy had asked Mayor Frank Jackson to convey their desire to help Stephens, should he want to seek out their counsel.

And members of Godwin's family, speaking on CNN, said they offered their forgiveness.

"I don't want that man to die, I want him brought to justice," one of his sons, Robby Miller, said.

"One thing I do want to say, is that I forgive (the killer)."
Cleveland police search for a suspect identified in a Facebook video showing one man shooting an elderly man.