Murdered on Facebook Live: Police capture suspect after 55yo gunned down

27 Feb, 2018 13:39 / Updated 5 years ago

Police in North Carolina have suspended a manhunt for the suspect in a murder streamed live on Facebook after he handed himself in on Tuesday. The victim was shot multiple times when confronted during the broadcast.

Douglas Cleveland Colson allegedly shot Prentis Robinson to death on Monday just a block from the local police headquarters while the victim was filming a Facebook Live. The video, which has since been removed by Facebook but seen by RT, shows 55-year-old Robinson shooting a livestream as he walks on Jerome Street in Wingate, North Carolina. He then seems to notice another person, identified by police as 65-year-old Colson, on the footpath. 

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Robinson repeatedly says “You’re live” to the second man before four distinct shots ring out felling Robinson, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting briefly put the local university on lockdown while police searched for the assailant.

According to Wingate Police Chief Donnie Gay, moments prior to his murder, Robinson had stopped into the nearby station to report the theft of one of his mobile phones. “I’d just spoke to him, it was, I just ... it's hard to say anything about that. I just got through talking to him,” Gay said.

Officers had reportedly questioned Colson following the killing, though he was not arrested at the time. Police told local media that upon receiving further information a warrant was issued for his arrest and he later turned himself in to authorities.

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