In what's come to be called the "Easter Day slaughter," a deranged Ohio man shot and killed an innocent passerby while streaming it live on Facebook. This horrific crime is the most recent example of people being killed during a livestream, and it has people asking whether Facebook should allow Facebook Live at all.
The gruesome crime started after Steve Stephens randomly shot 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. on April 16, 2017 in Cleveland, OH. The Facebook Live video quickly went viral, and it was up for almost four hours before Facebook took it down. Now a family and a community is reeling from this senseless act of violence. Stephens managed to elude police for nearly 48 hours. He killed himself after a brief police pursuit in Pennsylvania.
Facebook Live Shooter Kills Himself After Police Pursuit,
Steve Stephens Bragged About Killing
Stephens, 37, started livestreaming shortly before shooting Godwin on April 16, 2017. The video – which was captioned Easter Day slaughter – started with Stephens in his car, saying he "snapped" over a woman. He then approached Godwin, who was randomly walking down the road, and asked him if Godwin knew the woman. Godwin said he didn't, and as Stephens pulled out his gun, Godwin pled for his life. Stephens turned a deaf ear to his pleas, however, and shot Godwin, leaving the man bleeding on the sidewalk before driving away.
A short while later, he posted a second video. In it, he said he killed at least 13 other people, and he wasn't going to stop.
"And I'm about to keep killing until they catch me," he said.
When He Was Arrested, He Shot And Killed Himself
Stephens fled Cleveland shortly after the shooting. It took police nearly 48 hours to find him, but eventually tracked him down to Erie, PA, on April 18. The previous day, police said they were getting cellphone signals from his phone near Erie. The manhunt for Stephens spread across five states.
Police in Erie said they spotted Stephens's car early Tuesday morning. An officer followed Stephens in a pursuit for a short period of time before Stephens pulled over. While sitting in his car, he shot and killed himself.
His Victim Was Walking Home From Easter Dinner With His Family
Godwin was walking down the Cleveland street after having Easter dinner with his children. His family said he was a kind man who loved his children deeply. He had nine children and was a retired foundry worker who liked to collect aluminum cans on his walks. His son, Robert Godwin, Jr., told Cleveland.com he was looking for cans on his way back home. He said his dad loved fishing, had lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren, and was quiet but very caring.