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5 key facts to know about the ongoing Steve Stephens investigation

Posted at 1:27 PM, Apr 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-18 09:45:33-04

As the manhunt for Steve Stephens expands to surrounding states such as Pennsylvania and Indiana, there are unanswered questions and speculation about the location of Stephens and developing details of the investigation.

Police say Stephens shot and killed 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr.  Sunday on East 93rd Street. Then, he posted video of the attack on his Facebook Page.

Police say the suspect's vehicle is a white Ford Fusion with temporary tag E363630. 

Early in the search for Stephens, misinformation circulating via social media has made it difficult for authorities to decipher what is a real lead or simply a rumor.

Here are 5 key things we know:

1.  Cleveland police confirmed that Steve Stephens has a concealed carry permit. In a video he posted on Facebook in 2016, he was at Sherwin Shooting Sports in Eastlake shooting at targets, labeling the post, "Rapid shots." The owner of the shooting range, Blake Federick told News 5 he recognized Stephens and confirmed he has visited the gun range often. His staff looked through documents dating back to 2013 and they never sold Stephens a gun.

2. Stephens' mother, Maggie Green spoke to CNN about her eldest of three sons who stopped by her house on Saturday afternoon. Green recalled that her son said it was going to be the last time she would hear from him. Stephens' mother learned of the video from her youngest son who informed her that Stephens was shooting at people.

3. Court records show the man Stephens shot, 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr., was "simply walking down the street collecting cans" when he was shot point blank in the face.

4. Investigators searched dozens of locations to "no avail" with most leading to dead ends. Authorities spoke to Stephens via cell phone after the shooting. According to a CNN map (see below), Stephens' last cell phone ping was in Erie, PA. Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Steve Stephens. In a news conference, Chief of Police, Calvin Williams said the search for Stephens is now a national search.

5. Stephens filed for bankruptcy in 2015. According to his bankruptcy papers, he had a student loan of $2,868. He mentioned gambling debts incurred at casinos in a Facebook Post. 

Bankruptcy filings also show Stephens owed thousands of dollars to payday loan creditors. 

Facebook screen captured photo via CNN.

RELATED: Find more of News 5's Steve Stephens coverage here