Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Stephens uploaded the video of the shooting to Facebook after-the-fact, and did not broadcast it live as the Cleveland Police Department originally reported. Facebook later released a statement clarifying that the video was uploaded as opposed to live.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A major manhunt is underway after a man in Cleveland, Ohio randomly shot and killed an elderly man on Sunday and then uploaded video footage of the murder to his Facebook page. He claims that he has killed 13 people just today and is “working on” 14.
“Found me somebody I’m going to kill: this guy right here, this old dude,” Steve “Stevie Steve” Stephens, 37, proclaimed before he exited his vehicle on East 93rd Street.
He asked the 78-year-old man if he knew his girlfriend Joy Lane, and then announced, “She’s the reason this is about to happen to you,” before drawing a gun and shooting the man in the head. Stephens soon drove away, leaving the man for dead on the ground.
“Suspect did broadcast the killing on Facebook Live and has claimed to have committed multiple other homicides which are yet to be verified,” the Cleveland Police Department posted following the incident. Facebook later clarified that the video was uploaded after-the-fact.
Stephens is believed to be driving a white or cream-colored Ford Fusion SUV, and is 6’1, 244 pounds.
In another Facebook video, Stephens stated that he “just snapped” as he has a “lot of built-in anger and frustration,” and is going to “keep killing until they catch me.” However, in a written post, he stated that he is not going to stop until he receives a call from his mother and Lane.
“Easter Day slaughter because of Joy Lane,” he wrote, advising his co-workers that he wouldn’t be showing up for work on Monday. “I’m sorry team, but I’m [too] far gone.”
In addition to relational problems, Stephens said that he had lost everything due to gambling, and stated that he was upset that his mother seemingly didn’t care when he explained his frustration and suicidal feelings.
“[P]eople would come to me with their problems. I would deal with my problems everyday,” he vented. “But when it comes to my problems, nobody gives a [expletive]. … Innocent people about to die today. Hopefully I’m going to try and kill as many people as I can and be on death row or whatever the case may be.”
Stephens’ page has now been deactivated.
According to reports, the man works as a caseworker at Beech Brook, a children’s behavioral health agency in the city.
“We hope and pray that he is arrested as soon as possible and we hope and pray for a resolution quickly,” the organization said in a statement.
The Cleveland Division of the FBI is assisting in the investigation, as well as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Police are instructing Cleveland residents to call 9-1-1 if they spot Stephens.
“We have all of our partners in on this and we will look until we find him,” Police Chief Calvin Williams said during a press conference Sunday evening.
No other victims have been located as of press time.
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