Steve Stephens, the Cleveland murder suspect who posted video of the slaying on Facebook, killed himself in Pennsylvania after a police chase, officers said Tuesday.
Someone spotted Stephens’ white Ford Fusion in the parking lot of a McDonald’s near Erie and called authorities, Pennsylvania State Police said.
Stephens fled, and state troopers started a pursuit. One trooper performed a “PIT” maneuver — a strategic way of ramming a vehicle to disable it.
“As the vehicle was spinning out of control from the PIT maneuver, Stephens pulled a pistol and shot himself in the head,” Pennsylvania State Police said.
For two days, authorities across the country scrambled to find Stephens, the man wanted for the death of Robert Godwin — a self-taught mechanic and grandfather of 14.
“We’re grateful that this has ended,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said. “We would prefer that it had not ended this way because there are a lot of questions, I’m sure, that not only the family but the city in general would have had for Steve.”
Godwin’s daughter
Brenda Haymon learned of Stephens’ death as she was planning funeral arrangements for her father.
“All I can say is that I wish he had gone down in a hail of 100 bullets,” Haymon told CNN. “I wish it had gone down like that instead of him shooting himself.”
Godwin, 74, was shot Sunday while walking home from an Easter meal with his children in Cleveland. Stephens later posted video of the elderly man’s death on Facebook.
Damn coward took the easiest way out!!R.I.P sir Goodwin.
Mi seh mi know him woulda did do dat but mi did want dem kill him star but a bait suh mi expect it…. all if yuh know dis woulda happen now…any weh di mumma skin out fi go tek di sex whey ago bring him come inna di world yuh lock har foot an push har whey a swear cause dat womb ago bring kraasiz. Look how him mek di devil rule him suh a dat a feem purpose.