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Manhunt For Facebook Suspect Ends In Erie, PA

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson during a press conference Apr. 18 announcing end of manhunt. [Matt Richmond / ideastream]

The search for Steve Stephens, the suspect in the Sunday killing posted on Facebook, has ended. Police say Stephens killed himself near Erie, Pa. Tuesday morning.

According to a statement from Pennsylvania State Police, Stephens was spotted near Erie at around 11am. An approximately two-mile chase ended with the suspect killing himself.

Officials in Cleveland quickly called a press conference to announce the end of the search. But an investigation remains open.

Cleveland Chief of Police Calvin Williams says, early in the search, a mobile phone linked to Stephens made contact with a cell tower nearby.

“We searched that area initially on Sunday, when we got that ping up in that area of Erie, PA. We were in the process today of going back and doing a more thorough search of that area, both ground and air assets, when this transpired," says Williams.

The investigation is ongoing. Williams could not answer whether Stephens was helped by anyone or where else he went during the nearly two days he was wanted by police.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson applauded the family of the seventy-four-year-old victim, Robert Godwin, Senior, and the community’s support for them the past two days.

“Ultimately, I believe one of the things this has taught us – that we cannot resolve this underlying issues of violence, particularly gun violence, if we do not function and operate and have the same compassion and commitment that we’ve shown here," says Jackson.

Matthew Richmond is a reporter/producer focused on criminal justice issues at Ideastream Public Media.