Manhunt for killer responsible for Facebook Live 'Easter day slaughter' of elderly man
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Police in the US are hunting a man who broadcast the cold-blooded killing of an elderly stranger on the streets of Cleveland on Facebook Live in what he dubbed an "Easter day slaughter".
Steve Stephens is suspected in the point-blank murder of a 74-year-old man who was shot in the head while walking down the street in the state of Ohio's largest city.
Stephens was allegedly broadcasting on Facebook Live when he stopped his car and approached a random stranger walking on the footpath.
"Found me somebody I'm about to kill... this old dude," Stephens says as he hops out of the vehicle.
The video shows the suspect approach the elderly black man, asking him to say the name "Joy Lane", understood to be Stephens' ex-partner.
"She's the reason why all this is about to happen to you," Stephens says in the video, which allegedly shows him pull the gun on the man.
The elderly man shields his face with a shopping bag and pleads for his life before he is shot in the head and killed.
Cleveland Police identified the victim as 74-year-old Robert Godwin.
Since the video went live on Sunday, Stephens has made several more written and video posts in which he boasted about killing more than a dozen people, NBC reports.
In a thread of posts, Stephens said he had "lost everything" and later wrote "I killed 12 people today" and would not stop his rampage until he spoke to his mother and Ms Lane, mentioned in the shooting video and several posts.
"Easter day slaughter because of joy lane (sic)," he wrote.
"I killed 12 people and I won't stop unit my mother and joy lane call me."
In one post on Facebook Stephens claimed, "I killed 15 today" because of his relationship troubles.
"Everybody keep putting this s*** 'Is that real?' That's funny," Stephens said in one video.
"And again people are saying is that real and nobody taking me for granted and for truth and s*** and that the crazy part man."
Police have not been able to verify whether there were more victims but the initial shooting video remained online for up to three hours before Stephens' Facebook page was deactivated, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
A warrant has been issued for the alleged gunman's arrest.
"Suspect did broadcast the killing on Facebook Live and has claimed to have committed multiple other homicides which are still NOT verified," Cleveland police said in a statement.
"Suspect in this case is... armed and dangerous. If seen call 9-1-1. Do not approach."
The suspect is described as African-American, 185-centimetres tall and weighing 110 kilograms.
Stephens had been working with young adults as a case manager for a children's behavioural health agency Beech Brook, BuzzFeed reports.
Police said Stevens may be out of the midwestern state, and asked residents of Indiana, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania to be on alert.
Beech Brook spokeswoman Nancy Kortemeyer told WOIO-TV news staff at the 165-year-old agency were praying for quick resolution to the situation.
"We are shocked and horrified and we don't know anything more about it," Ms Kortemeyer said.
"We hope and pray that he is arrested as soon as possible and we hope and pray for a resolution quickly."
A Facebook spokesman described the shooting video as a "horrific crime", adding the social network would work with police during the emergency.
"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," the spokesperson said.
Sunday's shooting video is the latest in a number of horrific live posts including the police shooting of Minnesota man Philando Castile, killed by an officer during a traffic stop last July.
A two-year-old Chicago boy's murder was also shown on Facebook Live in February when a gang opened fire on his pregnant aunt while they were in her car.
In January a gang of four teenagers from Chicago were arrested after one young woman shared a Facebook Live video allegedly showing the torture and imprisonment of a mentally disabled man.
