International

Facebook murder suspect 'kills himself after car chase'

Facebook murder suspect

AFP/Chicago

April 18, 2017 | 06:13 PM

Steve Stephens was wanted over a killing in Cleveland.

The US man wanted for killing an elderly man in Ohio and posting a video of the murder on Facebook fatally shot himself on Tuesday after a brief pursuit in neighbouring Pennsylvania, police said.

Steve Stephens, 37, had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt in the wake of Sunday's killing in Cleveland. The FBI had put him on its Most Wanted list.Stephens "was spotted this morning by PSP members in Erie County. After a brief pursuit, Stephens shot and killed himself," Pennsylvania State Police said on Twitter.

Stephens was accused of fatally shooting Robert Godwin Sr in Cleveland, Ohio as the 74-year-old grandfather was walking home from Easter Sunday dinner.

Stephens allegedly videotaped his actions and published it on Facebook, along with another video threatening to kill others and claiming he had already killed 13 people. Authorities said Godwin is the only known victim despite an extensive investigation into Stephens's claims to have killed others.Stephens's photo had gone up on billboards and more than 400 tips were poured in to authorities. "When people go on the run like this, at some point in time, they need help," Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams told a news conference earlier on Tuesday.

By AFP/Chicago

April 18, 2017 | 06:13 PM