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'I NEED MY MCNUGGETS'

Cleveland Facebook gunman Steve Stephens dead after shooting and killing himself during police chase after yelling at McDonald’s drive-thru workers who tried to stall him by saying his fries weren’t ready

A FUGITIVE gunman who filmed himself randomly slaughtering a grandad in the street has shot and killed himself after a police chase.

Cops tracked down Steve Stephens, 37, after a McDonald’s drive-thru worker recognised him and stalled the killer by saying his fries weren't ready.

Steve Stephens shot and killed himself after a police chase
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Steve Stephens shot and killed himself after a police chaseCredit: facebook
Police tracked him down after he was spotted at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Erie County, Pennsylvania
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Police tracked him down after he was spotted at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Erie County, PennsylvaniaCredit: Reuters
Stephens was shot while at the wheel of his white Ford Fusion earlier today
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Stephens was shot while at the wheel of his white Ford Fusion earlier todayCredit: AP:Associated Press
The fugitive killed himself after a brief police chase in Erie County, Pennsylvania
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The fugitive killed himself after a brief police chase in Erie County, PennsylvaniaCredit: AP:Associated Press

The twisted killer went on the run after posting a Facebook video of the moment he shot dead Robert Godwin Sr in Cleveland, Ohio.

He was found 100 miles from the murder scene at a McDonald’s in Erie County, Pennsylvania - where he ordered a 20-piece box of Chicken McNuggets and fries.

Cops search the area near the car looking for possible evidence after the chase
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Cops search the area near the car looking for possible evidence after the chaseCredit: AP:Associated Press
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Restaurant owner Thomas DuCharme Jr said one of the employees called cops and tried to delay the killer by saying his order was not ready, reported.

“We told him his fries were going to be a minute,” said Henry Sayers, the restaurant’s manager.

But Stephens reportedly grew impatient and yelled: “I can’t wait! I need my McNuggets!”

The killer then sped out of the car park and almost hit Gail Wheeler, 54, who was on her way home from the supermarket.

"Two seconds later, I hear these sirens, and they come whipping past me," she told The Associated Press.

Cops caught up with Stephens at around 11am (local time) yesterday and tried to pull him over but he sped off, Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams said.

Police chased him, but the suspect shot himself “as the car was spinning out of control”, police said.

Chief Williams said: “As the officers approached that vehicle Steve Stephens took his own life.”

“We would have preferred that it had not ended this way,” he added, saying he and the community would have had “a lot of questions” for Stephens.

Crazed killer Stephens, 37, went on the run after uploading a Facebook video of the moment he shot dead Robert Godwin Sr, 74, in Cleveland, Ohio
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Crazed killer Stephens, 37, went on the run after uploading a Facebook video of the moment he shot dead Robert Godwin Sr, 74, in Cleveland, OhioCredit: Facebook
Robert Goodwin Sr, 74
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The man shot in the video was named as Robert Godwin Sr, 74Credit: Enterprise News and Pictures

One witness told : "All I seen out of my rear view mirror was the white car, like spun around, and then it stopped.

"Then I heard this loud noise. It was like you were watching a movie, just live. I've never seen anything like that."

It wasn't immediately clear where Stephens had been since the Sunday shooting.

His death - around 100 miles from the scene of Mr Godwin's killing - brought an end to a three-day manhunt to capture one of the world's most wanted men.

Stephens, who had no prior criminal record, is not believed to have killed any more people, officials said.

Pennsylvania Governor Wolf said “I am incredibly grateful to the Pennsylvania State police for their bravery and vigilance in spotting and pursuing ‘Facebook Live Killer’ Steve Stephens in Erie and acting without hesitation to keep others safe.

Police believe shooting suspect Steve Stephens is driving a later-model white Ford Fusion
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Police said Stephens was driving a later-model white Ford Fusion

“On behalf of all Pennsylvanians and Americans, I thank these state troopers, the entire State Police and all law enforcement involved for their heroism in protecting their fellow citizens.”

Mr Godwin’s daughter Brenda Haymon vented her frustration at the killer’s suicide.

“I hate that he killed himself, because I wanted the police to put about 100 bullets in him,” Ms Haymon told Cleveland.com.

“I wanted him to die a little more miserably than he did, because of what my father went through.”

Cops received more than 400 tips regarding Stephens’ location after the Easter Sunday slaughter – some as far afield as Texas.

Police worked with the FBI and US Marshals in the hunt for Stephens, who claimed he had slaughtered 14 others and vowed he would “not stop killing” until he was caught.

Detectives admitted they tried to convince Stephens to hand himself in when they spoke to him over the phone shortly after the deadly attack at 2pm on Sunday.

Chief Williams said: “Earlier we did have direct contact.

Mr Goodwin is shown holding his arms up in fear
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Mr Godwin is shown holding his arms up in fear
The suspect is then shown holding the gun to Mr Goodwin's head before pulling the trigger
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The suspect is then shown holding the gun to Mr Godwin's head before pulling the trigger

“We talked to him via cell phone and tried to convince him to turn himself in.”

Stephens “snapped” and killed Mr Godwin after the breakdown of his relationship and bankruptcy from £30,000 in gambling debts sent him into a downward spiral.

In one desperate 911 call, a man can be heard describing the scene after seeing Mr Godwin lying on the pavement covered in blood.

The caller said it looked as though the granddad had been shot in the head or the ear.

“He's unconscious. He's dead,” the man said in the.

Neighbours have told how they are “not surprised” Stephens, 37, was behind the murder that shocked the world because of his increasingly troubling behaviour.

Tony Henderson, who has lived across the street from Stephens for decades, told the that Stephens tortured his pets.

In a series of chilling Facebook videos on Sunday, Stephens said he was “out of options” after racking up huge debts.

"You know, being with [his ex-girlfriend] drove me crazy, started making me gamble.

"I lost everything. I lost everything I have. I don't have **** I'm out of options."

Cleveland cops released this picture of Stephens as they urged him to hand himself in
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Cleveland cops released this picture of Stephens as they urged him to hand himself inCredit: EPA

Local court records show how Stephens filed for bankruptcy in January 2015 and declared more than $35,000 (£30,000) in debts, reported.

He was also reportedly evicted from two apartments because he could not pay the rent.

Others neighbours have claimed Stephens was a "slimy" local loser who used a pet snake to try and lure women.

Next-door-neighbour Alexis Lee told the  that Stephens had a bizarre "party trick" as a teenager.

He bought a python and would approach women with the slithering pet around his neck to try and win their affections.

She said: "There was nothing attractive about him. He did have a nice personality though."

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Cleveland Police confirmed the fatal shooting broadcast on Facebook was real, but said there were no other victims linked to the "random" attack.

Stephens is not believed to have a criminal record, but cops said he had a number of traffic violations.

The children’s mental health worker is believed to have “snapped” after the break-down of his three-year relationship with his girlfriend, Joy Lane.

In the graphic video of the attack, Stephens can be seen approaching Mr Godwin in the street, saying: “Found me somebody I’m about to kill… this old dude.”

He then asked the elderly granddad to say his ex-girlfriend’s name to the camera, before adding: “She’s the reason this is about to happen to you.”

Stephens filmed himself pointing and shooting his gun at the man who fell to the ground, with blood pouring from his face down onto the pavement.

In a series of Facebook posts, Stephens claimed he had killed a total of 15 people in what he called an “Easter day slaughter”.

He told someone over the phone that he "just snapped" and had a lot of "built-up anger and frustration".

Stephens then goaded police, saying “I’ll keep killing until they catch me" before adding: "I shamed myself".


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