Steve Stephens posted a Facebook video showing the murder of Robert Godwin Sr. and went live ranting about killing more people and the whole ordeal went viral. Curious people were left wondering if they should watch the video everyone was talking about.
The graphic video shows Stephens shooting Godwin point-blank in the head. The 74-year-old victim was walking home from a family meal on Easter Sunday when Stephens randomly murdered him. The horrific video captures the kind-hearted grandfather’s terrifying final moments and gruesome death.
If you see the video on any social network, do not share it. Godwin’s family has requested that you report the video instead. His grandson Ryan A. Godwin tweeted, “Please please please stop retweeting that video and report anyone who has posted it! That is my grandfather show some respect #Cleveland.”
It is disrespectful to share any video showing a person’s death or assault, especially when the family asks for people not to. By sharing these videos, you are subjecting more and more people to the graphic images. A lot of people are sensitive to violent images and do not want to see such upsetting content. Additionally, when people keep sharing graphic videos of people being harmed or killed, they are increasing the chances of the victim’s loved ones seeing the video. No one should have to watch their grandfather being murdered.
You definitely should not look for any graphic videos, even if you’re just curious about what everyone’s talking about. When you come across graphic videos, you should avoid watching them as well. You aren’t a terrible person if you do happen to watch one of these videos, but you almost certainly will regret it. You are not going to like what you see and the disturbing images won’t be easily forgotten.
If the upsetting imagery isn’t enough to turn you away, think about the person in the video. Would they want their death to be seen by millions of people online? No, of course not. Would their family want to have their loved one be forever associated with an awful death? Definitely not. Out of respect for the victim’s memory, please do not watch graphic videos online.