Police hunt man who posted killing on Facebook
UNITED STATES: Police in Ohio urged residents in surrounding states to be on alert for a man who they said shot and killed an elderly passerby seemingly at random and then posted a gruesome video of the killing on Facebook.
Steve Stephens, 37, was wanted on a charge of aggravated murder in the death of Robert Godwin Sr. in Cleveland.
Police yesterday warned residents of Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan to be on the lookout for Stephens, who they said may have travelled out of state.
In the video, which appears shaky, Stephens gets out of his car and appears to randomly target Godwin, 74, who is holding a plastic shopping bag. Stephens says the name of a woman, whom Godwin does not seem to recognise. ‘‘She’s the reason that this is about to happen to you,’’ Stephens tells Godwin before pointing a gun at him. Godwin can be seen shield- ing his face with the shopping bag.
Facebook said the suspect did go live on the social media website at one point during the day, but not during the killing. Police earlier had said that Stephens had broadcast it on Facebook Live. The video of the killing was on Facebook for about three hours before it was removed. Stephens Facebook page also was eventually removed.
In a separate video posted on Facebook, Stephens claimed to have killed more than a dozen other people. ‘‘Like I said, I killed 13, so I’m working on 14 as we speak.’’ Police have not verified any other shootings or deaths, Police Chief Calvin Williams said. ‘‘There are no more victims that we know are tied to him.’’
Police said they have been talking with family and friends of Stephens, who was a case manager at Beech Brook, a behavioural health agency headquartered in Pepper Pike, near Cleveland. - AP