Manhunt expanded for suspect in Facebook video killing
April 17, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities in several states were on the lookout Monday for a man police say shot a Cleveland retiree collecting aluminum cans and then posted video of the apparently random killing on Facebook.

Steve Stephens. Cleveland police said they are searching for Stephens, a homicide suspect, who recorded himself shooting another man and then posed the video on Facebook on Sunday, April 16, 2017.

"He could be nearby. He could be far away or anywhere in between," FBI agent Stephen Anthony said on Day 2 of the manhunt for Steve Stephens, a 37-year-old job counselor for teens and young adults. Police said Stephens killed Robert Godwin Sr., a 74-year-old former foundry worker, on Sunday.

Investigators said that Godwin was the only victim so far linked to Stephens, despite the suspect's claim in a separate video on Facebook that he killed over a dozen people. Officers searched dozens of places around the city and spoke with the suspect by cellphone, police said.

Police Chief Calvin Williams warned residents to be careful as the go about their day. Authorities also warned people in Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan to be alert for Stephens, who was wanted on a charge of aggravated murder.

"We're going to make this individual's world very, very small," said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott. Godwin apparently was shot while out picking up cans in a plastic shopping bag, his daughter said. "Not because he needed the money, it was just something he did," said 52-year-old Debbie Godwin. "That's all he was doing. He wasn't harming anyone."

She said her father, who had 10 children, was a gentle man with nothing mean about him. "We called him the junk man," she said. "He'd pick up things off the street and fix them. He picked up bikes and he fixed them."

The motive for the shooting wasn't entirely clear from the shaky video, in which Stephens told Godwin a woman's name and said, "She's the reason that this is about to happen to you." Godwin did not seem to recognize the woman's name.

The suspect then pointed a gun at Godwin, who shielded his face with the plastic bag. The woman Stephens mentioned, Joy Lane, said in a text to CBS that "we had been in a relationship for several years. I am sorry that all of this has happened."

She also said Stephens was "a nice guy" who was generous to everyone and was "kind and loving" to her and her children. Facebook said the video was posted after the killing but wasn't broadcast on Facebook Live as police initially indicated. The suspect did go live on the social media site at another point Sunday.

The video of the killing was on Facebook for about three hours before it was taken down. Stephens' Facebook page also was eventually removed. "This is a horrific crime and we do not allow this kind of content on Facebook," the company said. "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."

In the separate video, Stephens said: "I killed 13, so I'm working on 14 as we speak." Police said they have not verified any other shootings or deaths. Stephens worked at Beech Brook, a behavioral health agency headquartered in Pepper Pike, near Cleveland. He helped young people develop job skills and find employment, said Beech Brook spokeswoman Nancy Kortemeyer.

An extensive background check before he was hired turned up nothing worrisome, she said. "We just hope Mr. Stephens is apprehended as quickly as possible so that no one else is injured," she said. In one of the videos, Stephens could be seen holding up his employee identification and said: "I'm killing with my Beech Brook badge on, too."

http://www.cleveland19.com/story/35162236/watch-cleveland-shooting-suspects-facebook-live-edited

Has anyone seen the video when he killed the old man?

Nah, I heard about it

Wouldn't want to give him the satisfaction of an audience

me too. I saw a picture of the old man, but I don't want to see the video. Too sad for me.

I couldn't watch it either. So sad. Hope that guy gets his

I hope they catch the bastard...

I hope they catch him soon and fill him with lead ~~~~ Texas Justice~~~

^^^ then I hope they catch the bastard in Texas!

we treat them nice out here...

I don't think he will get very far. These type lunatics usually pull over somewhere and just kill themselves.

But I hope he doesn't.. that is the easy way out. He deserves to live the rest of his life in prison... to think of his actions till the day he dies there.

on the tax-payer dollar... take him out quick, bullets are only about .67 cents each...

I know.. I am in favor of the " bullet train" method too. most times actually. But at times and for certain crimes I would prefer that the creep lives . to be a old man.. never to see the grass again. to think of what he did for 40-50 years.

"Whiskey for my men...beer for my horses"

and Miss Lili Langtree...

The coward couldn't even face it!

UPDATE: During an afternoon press conference Tuesday, Pennsylvania authorities confirmed that suspected Facebook Live shooter Steve Stephens died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after encountering state police in Erie County.

Mayor Frank Jackson, stated that we now have ‘closure‘ in this heartbreaking case. Thanking local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for their well organized response to the heartbreaking matter, Jackson called the murder of Godwin a ‘loss of innocence’ for the community.

Police Chief Calvin Williams, stated that approximately at 11 am, authorities received a tip that Stephens’ vehicle was spotted at an Erie county area McDonald’s and that as authorities attempted to make contact Stephens committed suicide.

‘There is a lot about this that we still don’t know‘ Williams stated while asking the public to allow authorities to continue their investigation. Williams thank the public, stating that they played an instrumental part in locating the suspect.

S.O.B


On a positive note,

The county saved 67 cents?

Guess he didn't want to make it to Texas. He should have gone to Canada hehehe

He is a coward in many ways

They do that all the time?.. go on a killing spree then kill themselves.

Why can't they just kill themselves first and leave everyone else alone

They are cowards

Won't mention the obvious though

Only sad thing about him killing himself is he pretty much said that was like his 14th victim... Too bad they could not at least find out who all he had killed in order to give peace to those family's...