The owner of Sherwin Shooting Sports gun range in Eastlake told News 5, Steve Stephens spent time at his facility months before police say he shot and killed 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. on April 16.
Cleveland police confirmed that Steve Stephens has a concealed carry permit.
In a video he posted on Facebook in 2016, he was at Sherwin Shooting Sports shooting at targets, labeling the post, "Rapid shots."
The owner of the shooting range, Blake Federick told News 5 he recognized Stephens and confirmed he visited the gun range often.
His staff looked through documents dating back to 2013 and they never sold Stephens a gun.
Cleveland's Concealed Carry Courses owner Kim Rodecker told News 5 he didn't see any alarming behavior from Stephens in the 2016 Facebook videos.
Still, Rodecker believes it's critical gun range staff keep close watch, use video surveillance in every stall, and report suspicious activity to the police.
"He wouldn't trip your suspicion, that he was nuts, that he was going to hurt somebody,"explained Rodecker.
"However I do feel it's a good idea to have a camera on each and every stall. This way whatever is going on is being recorded."
"Gun range staff should get involved, they should, they should go out and take a license plate number and give it to the police."
"Tell them, this man was in my range, He was saying these particular things, and then it's on to the police authorities what they're going to do "
In the Facebook video, Stephens is warned by a Sherwin Shooting Sports staff member not to "rapid fire" his handgun.
Rapid firing a gun is a violation of the safety rules clearly posted on the gun range website.
The manhunt
Stephens is described as being just over 6 feet tall, weighing about 244 pounds. He is bald with a full beard. The FBI is also assisting in the search.
Police say the suspect's vehicle is a white Ford Fusion with temporary tag E363630.
