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'Facebook killer' found dead after car chase

Police believe Steve Stephens took his own life

Tuesday, 18th April 2017

A man suspected of randomly shooting a grandfather on an Ohio street and posting video of the killing to Facebook has taken his own life, say police.

Pennsylvania State Police searching for Steve Stephens, 37, said that they had received a tip-off from an "alert citizen" shortly after 11am on Tuesday.

State police gave chase and the suspect shot himself "as the vehicle was spinning out of control", police said.

Robert Godwin, 74, was walking home from an Easter lunch when he was shot dead by Stephens on Sunday in Cleveland.

The fugitive's mobile phone signal was last tracked on Sunday afternoon to Erie, 100 miles (160km) from where Mr Godwin was gunned down.

The suspect's white Ford Fusion car had been spotted in the car park of a McDonald's in Erie, near a local police headquarters.

The chase covered less than two miles before state police tactically rammed Stephens' vehicle to make to lose control.

State police pursued him for less than two miles before executing a tactic that involves ramming the rear of a vehicle to make it lose control.

In a statement, Pennsylvania state police said: "As the vehicle was spinning out of control from the PIT manoeuvre, Stephens pulled a pistol and shot himself in the head."

During the encounter there were no injuries to members of the public or officers, and Stephens was pronounced dead at the scene, added Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

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