37-year-old Cleveland, Ohio man who uses Stevie Steve on social media, took to his Facebook page to post a live stream as he shot dead an elderly man at close range, and then went on to tell someone over the phone that he had already killed at least 13 people.
The video sparked immediate outrage. Facebook pulled down Stephens’ account but not before many people had downloaded the clip and also screenshots on his page where he blamed his gambling and failed relationship with a girlfriend for the murders.
Stephens swore he won’t stop killing until his mother and the alleged girlfriend call him. Investigations also revealed that Stephens is a case worker with a children’s mental health facility called Beech Brook in northeastern Cleveland and that he showed signs of snapping days ago when he posted a note on Facebook tagging his co-workers.
“I’m sorry team but I’m to far gone [sic] … I’m the #goodguy,” he said.
In the live stream where he killed the elderly man, Stephens said, “Found me somebody, I’m about to kill … this old dude.”
He pulled up his car in front of the elderly man and said, “Can you do me a favour?” And asked the man to repeat a woman’s name. “She’s the reason this is about to happen to you.”
And then he shot the man at close range. In another video, Stephen is seen telling a friend over the phone that he just “snapped”.
You can watch the video below (warning: very graphic):
Family members of the victim have identified him as a 78-year-old man.
Following the killing of the elderly man, the Cleveland police put the city on lockdown, while many people, including rapper Nicki Minaj, took to social media to express sadness over the disturbing shooting.
However, many others have pointed out that Stephens needed to talk to someone about his personal issues, but his mother and the girlfriend may have turned him away.
“Listen to whoever just wants to talk,” said a Twitter user.