Robert Godwin's Daughter Says She Wishes Steve Stephens 'Had Gone Down in a Hail of 100 Bullets'
Update:
Upon hearing about the suicide of the man who killed her father, Brenda Haymon spoke honestly about how she wishes his run had come to an end.
"All I can say is that I wish he had gone down in a hail of 100 bullets," Haymon told CNN. "I wish it had gone down like that instead of him shooting himself."
Haymon's father, Robert Godwin Sr., was fatally shot on Sunday by Steve Stephens of Cleveland. Stephens recorded the shooting and uploaded the footage to Facebook. A search involving several states' police departments and the FBI quickly followed.
On Tuesday, Stephens was found in Erie, Pennsylvania, and led a chase with state police officers. During the pursuit, Stephens shot and killed himself. Haymon learned of Stephens's death while she planned funeral arrangements for her father.
Previous:
Just one day after learning of the killing of their beloved patriarch Robert Godwin Sr., family members of the 74-year-old spoke out about their hopes for his murderer on Monday night. Godwin’s children and former wife desperately want Steve Stephens to turn himself in to the police, yet they do not wish any harm upon him.
In an interview with CNN's Don Lemon, three of Godwin’s children and his former wife said they forgive Stephens, but want him to be brought to justice.
"No, I don't want that man to die," said Godwin's son, Robby Miller. "All I want to see is him brought to justice. I want my family to have closure."
Miller continued to speak of the pain and forgiveness he has in his heart.
"It's a hole in my heart right now, but one thing I want to say is that I forgive him."
During the conversation with Lemon, Godwin’s former wife, Dorothy Crumpton, and his daughters, Tammy Godwin and Naujia Godwin, revealed how furious and disturbed they were to find out Stephens published a Facebook video of their dad’s killing.
"At first I was angry," said Naujia Godwin. "Why did they do that to my dad? Why would you put it online? I couldn't believe it was my dad."
When it comes to Stephens, the Godwin family has used their faith to keep them away from feelings of vengeance.
"I don't want him to take his life. I don't want the police to have to take his life," said Crumpton. "I want him to give himself up, because at the end of the day, Jesus died for his sins too, just like he died for mine."
Godwin's family and community members held a vigil on Monday
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