Search widens for murder suspect

CLEVELAND - Police in Ohio urged residents in surrounding states on Monday to be on alert for a man who they said shot and killed an elderly passer-by seemingly at random and then posted a gruesome video of the killing on Facebook.

Steve Stephens, 37, was wanted on a charge of aggravated murder in the death of Robert Godwin Sr. in Cleveland.

In a statement on Monday, police warned residents of Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan to be on the lookout for Stephens, who they said may have traveled out of state.

In the video, which appears shaky, Stephens gets out of his car and appears to randomly target Godwin, 74, who is holding a plastic shopping bag. Stephens said the name of a woman, whom Godwin does not seem to recognize.

"She's the reason that this is about to happen to you," Stephens told Godwin before pointing a gun at him. Godwin can be seen shielding his face with the shopping bag.

The video of the killing was on Facebook for about three hours before it was removed. Stephens Facebook page also was eventually removed.

The victim's son, Robert Godwin Jr., said that he can't bring himself to watch the video.

"I haven't watched the video. I haven't even looked at my cellphone or the news," he said. "I don't really want to see it."

He said his father, a retired foundry worker, collected aluminum cans and often walked with a plastic shopping bag, picking cans up if he saw them on ground. The son said he believed his father was looking for cans on Sunday when Stephens approached him.

In a separate video posted on Facebook, Stephens claimed to have killed more than a dozen other people.

"Like I said, I killed 13, so I'm working on 14 as we speak," he said.

Police have not verified any other shootings or deaths, Police Chief Calvin Williams said.

Police said Stephens should be armed and dangerous.