An Oklahoma man who is wanted for murder (and still at large as of today) posted two videos on Facebook Live while on the run from police, according to authorities.
Image: Twitter
Michael Dale Vance, Jr., 38, is on the hook for two counts of first-degree murder (the victims were reportedly his aunt and uncle), one count of the unauthorised use of a car and another count of firearm possession after a felony conviction. The chase started on Sunday night near Oklahoma City after Vance and another man reportedly opened fire on two police officers. Vance apparently escaped in a police car after the incident. Later, he allegedly shot a woman and stole her car before driving to his aunt and uncle’s home and killing them. The two victims had injuries that appeared to indicate attempted decapitations, the Associated Press reported.
But before he arrived at their home, Vance posted two live videos on Facebook that showed him on the run from cops, according to Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mark Opgrande. Yesterday, local news station News9 published what it said are the videos in question:
Only #News9 brings you Michael Vance’s Facebook Live video during his getaway Sunday evening. Here’s his first. #EXCLUSIVE #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/yWLwjvTuNj
— News 9 (@NEWS9) October 24, 2016
Only #News9 brings you Michael Vance’s Facebook Live video during his getaway Sunday evening. Here’s his second. #EXCLUSIVE #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/w1Vdx5nyrP
— News 9 (@NEWS9) October 24, 2016
“What’s up, y’all?” the man in the videos says at one point. “Letting y’all know, look, this is real. See, that’s a fucking gun. That’s the real deal. It ain’t a joke. This ain’t a prank.”
The videos appear to have been removed from Facebook, as has any account associated with Vance himself. He’s still at large, and cops said he was last seen on Monday near the Texas border.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Facebook Live has been as a broadcast tool for violence. In July, three men were filming a video for the platform in a car when shots broke out; shortly before that, the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Philando Castile by police was captured by Castile’s girlfriend. And in June, a Chicago man was shot to death while filming on Facebook Live.
Last week, Facebook announced that it was loosening the rules for what kind of content it would permit. Items that would previously have been considered in violation of the platform’s community standards — even if they were entirely newsworthy — will now supposedly be allowed.
We reached out to Facebook for comment on Vance’s videos, but had not heard back at time of writing.