Cars approach the drive through window of a McDonald's restaurant where a member of staff had recognized the car of fugitive Steve Stephens, who police said posted a video of himself on Facebook killing an elderly man in Cleveland, in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. April 18, 2017. REUTERS/Alan Freed - RTS12UTU
The employees at the McDonald’s in Pennsylvania who tipped off authorities and did their best to stall the Facebook murder suspect have been hailed as heroes on social media—with many taking to Twitter to say they deserve the $50,000 reward for helping lead police to Steve Stephens.
Officials said Stephens, 37, killed Robert Godwin Sr., 74, in Cleveland Sunday, then posted video of the horrific attack on Facebook.
A widespread manhunt ensued, and there was no sign of Stephens until a little after 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Thomas DuCharme Jr., the owner of the Erie McDonald's, told Tribune Media Wire that a worker there recognized Stephens as he came through the drive-thru and alerted her supervisor.
"I looked out and I'm like: 'It sure does look a lot like him,'" DuCharme told Tribune Media Wire. "She (the drive-thru worker) was already on the phone at that time, so hats off to my crew and the managers, I'm just so proud of them."
A supervisor went to the window and tried to stall Stephens by telling him that his order of fries would need more time to cook, according to Tribune Media.
Stephens took his six-piece Chicken McNuggets and declined to wait for the fries. Police caught up with him shortly after the exchange, and, following a brief chase, Stephens shot and killed himself, according to police.
It's not yet clear if the McDonald's employees will receive any of the $50,000 offered by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service, but law enforcement officials told TMZ that the workers were crucial in tracking down Stephens.
Many social media users feel the workers should be rewarded for their detective work.
This was smart and brave, and I hope @McDonalds and the authorities reward and recognize these employees. https://t.co/INTVpc8i9i
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) April 18, 2017
.@McDonalds should match the reward money for the employees https://t.co/FLKa22hbzP
— Greg Baroth (@gbaroth) April 19, 2017
@soniamoghe @McDonalds There was a $50,000 reward out on this guy. The McDonald's employees at this store that delayed him are owed that 50k reward
— TakeBringer (@take_bringer) April 18, 2017
Do the @McDonalds employees get the reward for finding #stevestephens? They did call the police to alert them. Make sure they get it. Rt
— Michaela Davis (@Mrsbarber25) April 18, 2017
