Police confirm Facebook murder suspect found dead after police pursuit in Erie
04/18/2017 9:02 am PDT
ERIE, Pa. -- ( WICU ) -- A stop at a McDonald's drive-thru in Harborcreek was the beginning of the end for murder fugitive Steve Stephens, WICU-TV Erie News Now reports .
Stephens pulled into the McDonald's on Buffalo Road and ordered a 6-piece Chicken McNuggets and fries. An employee working at the first drive-thru window believed she recognized Stephens and the car he was driving, a white Ford Fusion with Ohio tags.
As Stephens pulled up to the second window, the employee notified her supervisor and the restaurant owner, Tom Ducharme. She told them that the fugitive may be waiting for an order. Ducharme, and the supervisor, went to the window and in an effort to stall, told Stephens that it would be a minute until his fries would be ready.
At the same time, the drive-thru employee called Pennsylvania State Police. According to Ducharme, Stephens then became nervous, and told Ducharme that he did not want the fries and did not want a refund. Stephens then drove away. Ducharme said the State Police response was immediate, and he could see the patrol cars begin their pursuit of Stephens.
Moments later, the nationwide manhunt ended with Stephens shooting himself, just over a mile from the McDonald's on Buffalo Road.
ERIE, Pa. -- (WICU) -- Steve Stephens was found inside in the vehicle with a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Roger Young Park at Buffalo Road and Downing Avenue around 11:15 a.m., WICU Erie News Now reports.
During the pursuit, the car was described as a white Ford Fusion. Stephens was driving a vehicle with the same description and temporary license plates, Cleveland police said.
Spike strips were reportedly used during the chase.
WICU: Police confirm Facebook murder suspect found dead after police pursuit in Erie
ERIE, Pa. -- (WJW) -- Facebook murder suspect Steve Stephens has been found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Erie, Pennsylvania, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Stephens had been spotted by state police in Erie County Tuesday morning and shot and killed himself after a brief chase.
Cleveland police are expected to hold a press conference at noon today regarding the case.
Police say Stephens, 37, murdered a man on East 93rd Street in Cleveland Sunday afternoon. Stephens posted video of the crime on his Facebook page, then in a series of other live videos, claimed to kill others. According to Cleveland police, 74-year-old Robert Godwin, Sr. was the only victim.
FULL STORY: Live Video & Blog: Cleveland police hold press conference after Facebook murder suspect is found dead - WJW