‘Facebook killer’ Steve Stephens shot himself after pursuit
- 7 years ago
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA — Cleveland murder suspect Steve Stephens shot and killed himself after being pursued by police in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
According to the Erie Times-News, Steve Stephens was ordering food at a McDonald’s drive-through on Buffalo Road in Harborcreek Township, Erie County after 11 a.m. when he was recognized by staff members, who then reported him to the police.
State troopers quickly located Stephens and launched a two-mile pursuit. One trooper performed a PIT maneuver in order to stop Stephens’ vehicle. As the car was spinning out of control, Stephens reportedly shot himself in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We would have preferred it not ended this way. There are a lot of questions for the family and the city in general that they would have had for Steve as to why this transpired,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said at a news conference.
Stephens allegedly killed 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. on Sunday in Cleveland and later posted video of the killing to Facebook. He claimed he was also responsible for multiple homicides, but no additional victims have been found.
According to the Erie Times-News, Steve Stephens was ordering food at a McDonald’s drive-through on Buffalo Road in Harborcreek Township, Erie County after 11 a.m. when he was recognized by staff members, who then reported him to the police.
State troopers quickly located Stephens and launched a two-mile pursuit. One trooper performed a PIT maneuver in order to stop Stephens’ vehicle. As the car was spinning out of control, Stephens reportedly shot himself in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We would have preferred it not ended this way. There are a lot of questions for the family and the city in general that they would have had for Steve as to why this transpired,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said at a news conference.
Stephens allegedly killed 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. on Sunday in Cleveland and later posted video of the killing to Facebook. He claimed he was also responsible for multiple homicides, but no additional victims have been found.