Facebook live killer: 9 US schools locked down amid nation-wide search

Stephens

US police have expanded a manhunt for a gunman who shot and killed an elderly man on Facebook Live in a seemingly random Easter Sunday attack and then vowed to continue killing. Police in Cleveland, Ohio said they believe the suspect, 37-year-old Steve Stephens, is armed and dangerous, and have alerted authorities in other states to be on the lookout for him. The operation is now being treated as a national search, News 5 Cleveland and other US media reported Monday local time.
Earlier Monday, Philadelphia police reportedly put nine schools in lockdown after reports of a sighting of Mr Stephens.  A nearby park was searched before the lockdowns were lifted, NBC 10 reported. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Marshals Service have joined the hunt.
"This man is dangerous and he could be nearby, he could be far away, anywhere in between," FBI special agent Stephen Anthony said.
"We're going to make this individual's world very, very, very small, so I'm very optimistic," said Peter Elliot, the marshal on the case.
"I think things are going to happen, and I believe things are going to happen pretty quickly."
Robert Godwin Sr, 74, was shot and killed on Sunday, apparently picked out at random as he walked home after an Easter dinner, police and local media reported. Police issued an arrest warrant for aggravated homicide against Mr Stephens. In a video uploaded to Mr Stephens' Facebook page, a man resembling him is seen exiting a vehicle and approaching his victim, who is shown with a gun to his head and then falling to the ground after a shot is fired.
"I killed 13, so I'm working on 14 as we speak," the suspect says in a second video clip.
"I'm just driving around hitting motherfuckers, man. I just snapped man, fuck."
The videos were subsequently taken down by Facebook.
Police said Mr Stephens broadcast the killing on Facebook Live but said they have not verified his claim to have committed other murders. Mr Stephens worked for Beech Brook, a behavioural health agency serving children through mental health services, foster care and adoption, at-risk youth and other programs.

Source: 9News