Steve Stephens, the man being sought in the random killing of a Cleveland retiree shot himself to death on Tuesday in Pennsylvania, authorities say.
Stephens shot and killed 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr., after going on Facebook and announcing his intent to kill someone. Godwin, who was out picking up aluminum cans after spending Easter with his family, happened to be in the wrong place and the wrong time. Two minutes after making the announcement, Stephens posted a video showing him shooting and killing Godwin. After the video aired, Stephens went live again on Facebook and publicly confessed to the crime.
“I snapped,” he said, “I just snapped.”
Stephens had been having problems with his fiancé, and the two had decided not to get married. He had been gambling extensively in recent days and said he had lost everything. In the murder video he posted he can be heard telling Godwin his girlfriend’s name, and then saying: “She’s the reason that this is about to happen to you.”
After the video aired, police were flooded with calls and an arrest warrant for aggravated murder was issued. Police were looking for Stephens Tuesday morning when they spotted the 37-year-old in his car and attempted to pull him over. He fled and after a brief chase, shot and killed himself.
- Advocate Staff
- Advocate Staff
- Advocate Staff
- Advocate Staff
