Massive manhunt for Facebook killer continues in US

US authorities launched a nationwide manhunt on Monday for a gunman who shot and killed an elderly man, and then posted a video of the seemingly random attack on Facebook.

Police in Cleveland, Ohio working on the case with help from investigators at the FBI and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, have offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Steve Stephens, the accused shooter.

Stephens, 37, of Cleveland, Ohio, who was described as armed and dangerous, was also placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, a designation officials hope will help raise public awareness about the case.

The manhunt spread across the region within a few hours after the homicide, with authorities on the alert for Stephens in Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan. By midday Monday, the search for the accused murderer had spread nationwide.

“Our reach now is basically all over this country,” Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams said at a news conference.

“This is what we would consider a national search.”

Stephens is accused of fatally shooting Robert Godwin Sr, 74, who was walking home from Easter dinner on Sunday afternoon, when he was apparently picked out at random.

Stephens posted a video on Sunday afternoon saying he intended to kill, and followed up two minutes later with video of the shooting. AFP