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. And the worst part of it all? Stephens managed to elude police – and possibly killed others.
Sickening: A Man Killed An Innocent Pedestrian On Facebook Live,
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.
As Of 24 Hours After The Shooting, Stephens Is Still At Large
Stephens fled Cleveland shortly after the shooting, and, as of April 17, 2017, police are still trying to find him. To make matters worse, they don't know where exactly he fled. Law enforcement officials said their search extends to Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, and Michigan.
Stephens's mother told CNN she last spoke to him the day of the shooting. He told her he was angry with his girlfriend, but she hasn't spoken to him since. The FBI and the US Marshals Service are helping with the search.
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.