Police ask public for help in search for Facebook murder suspect

April 18 (Reuters) - Police said on Tuesday they had received more than 400 tips from the public in the nationwide manhunt for a murder suspect who posted a video of himself on Facebook shooting a man in Cleveland, Ohio.

They said they have had no contact with the suspect, Steve Stephens, since Sunday, when they tried to persuade him to surrender while talking to him on his cellphone after the shooting. A reward of $50,000 was offered for information regarding Stephens' location.

SEE MORE: Cleveland police widen manhunt for Facebook murder suspect

"This is currently a nationwide search and we are getting calls from all over the country, as far away as Texas," Calvin Williams, the Cleveland police chief, told a news conference.

Stephens, who has no prior criminal record, is not suspected in any other killings, police said.

The last confirmed sighting of Stephens was at the scene of the shooting, where he apparently singled out the victim, Robert Godwin Sr., 74, at random. Police said Stephens might be driving a white or cream-colored Ford Fusion, and asked anyone who spots him or his car to call police or a special FBI hot line (800-CALLFBI).

The shooting marked the latest video clip of a violent crime to turn up on Facebook, raising questions about how the world's biggest social media network moderates content.

The company on Monday said it would begin reviewing how it monitors violent footage and other objectionable material in response to the killing.

Stephens is not believed to have known Godwin, a retired foundry worker who media reports said spent Easter Sunday morning with his son and daughter-in-law before he was killed.

"I want him to know what he took from us. He took our dad," Godwin's daughter Tammy told CNN on Monday night. "My heart is broke."

Godwin's son Robby Miller said he wanted the shooter brought to justice and for his family to have closure. "I forgive him because we are all sinners," he said. "If you are out there, if you're listening, turn yourself in."

Facebook Vice President Justin Osofsky said the company was reviewing the procedure for reporting videos and other material that violate the social media platform's standards. The shooting video was visible on Facebook for nearly two hours before it was reported, the company said.