Campus killer ..............Stopped taking Prozac

[Guest guest]

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http://www.suntimes.com:80/news/metro/799650,CST-NWS-NIU18.article

Ex: Campus killer called to say bye prior to shooting

NIU MASSACRE | Says he was a 'worrier' who spent time in a group home

February 18, 2008

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN, LISA DONOVAN AND MITCH DUDEK Staff Reporters

Hours before he walked into a Northern Illinois University lecture

hall and inexplicably started a shooting rampage that ended five

lives and his own, Steve Kazmierczak called one of the people he was

closest to and said what would be a final goodbye.

That's what the gunman's girlfriend of two years, Baty,

recalled Sunday in an interview with CNN.

" He called me at midnight and told me not to forget about him, " she

told CNN.

Then Kazmierczak told her, " Goodbye, , " Baty said in the

interview. " He never said, 'Goodbye, ,' he always said, you

know, 'See you later, Jessie.' I just thought that was strange. "

The two University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate students,

described by CNN as having an on-again, off-again relationship, lived

together in a Champaign apartment. That's where, she said,

Kazmierczak kept two guns locked up -- apparently for protection,

said CNN.com.

Baty says he didn't do or say anything in his last days or even

during their last conversation early St. Valentine's Day that

provided any clues about what would unfold hours later, according to

the CNN report.

Baty said she thought authorities had " the wrong person " when her

boyfriend was fingered. She added, " He's not in DeKalb. "

But, in fact, he had returned to his and Baty's graduate school alma

mater, the NIU campus in DeKalb.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, Kazmierczak -- clad in black and carrying

a guitar case with a shotgun inside along with three guns tucked into

a belt -- burst into Cole Hall as a geology lecture was winding down.

He opened fire, and by the time it was over, five people were dead

and 20 were wounded. Kazmierczak then shot himself to death on the

lecture hall stage.

Baty says that's not the 27-year-old Steve Kazmierczak she knew.

Wearing an orange University of Illinois sweat shirt, Baty briefly

stepped out from her mother's home in Wonder Lake, Ill., about 70

miles northwest of Chicago, to address reporters there.

" You're presenting him like a monster, and he wasn't, " said Baty,

before retreating indoors.

Her family put a sign in the yard saying, " Our thoughts, prayers go

out to all the victims of the NIU incident. Please respect our

privacy as we need to grieve and mourn this tragic loss of so many

lives. "

Stopped taking Prozac

In an emotional interview on CNN, in which Baty wiped tears from her

eyes -- a peace ring visible on one of her fingers -- she said she

was baffled about Kazmierczak's actions.

" He was anything but a monster. He was probably the nicest, most

caring person ever. "

She went on to say " he was a worrier " and that Kazmierczak told her

he had " obsessive-compulsive tendencies " and that his parents

committed him as a teen to a group home because he was " unruly " and

used to cut himself.

Baty said he saw a psychiatrist monthly but stopped taking Prozac a

few weeks ago. She said the medicine " made him feel like a zombie. "

But Baty said that recently he was " a little quicker to get annoyed. "

" He wasn't erratic, " she said. " He wasn't delusional. "

Since the shooting, she has received several packages, apparently

from Kazmierczak, including a textbook about serial killers, a gun

holster and ammunition, items that puzzled her. She said she also

received a " goodbye " note.

The note included: " You are the best ! You've done so much for

me, and I truly do love you. "

Contributing: Main

Baty, girlfriend of Steve Kazmierczak, stands outside her

parents' Wonder Lake home on Sunday. She said on CNN that the last

time she spoke to Kazmierczak, he " told me not to forget about him "

and then he said " Goodbye, . " Baty said in the interview

she " thought that was strange " because her boyfriend of two years

never said 'goodbye, ' but rather 'see you later Jessie.'

(Sweda, Sun-Times/Courtesy

[Guest guest]

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http://www.suntimes.com:80/news/metro/799650,CST-NWS-NIU18.article

Ex: Campus killer called to say bye prior to shooting

NIU MASSACRE | Says he was a 'worrier' who spent time in a group home

February 18, 2008

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN, LISA DONOVAN AND MITCH DUDEK Staff Reporters

Hours before he walked into a Northern Illinois University lecture

hall and inexplicably started a shooting rampage that ended five

lives and his own, Steve Kazmierczak called one of the people he was

closest to and said what would be a final goodbye.

That's what the gunman's girlfriend of two years, Baty,

recalled Sunday in an interview with CNN.

" He called me at midnight and told me not to forget about him, " she

told CNN.

Then Kazmierczak told her, " Goodbye, , " Baty said in the

interview. " He never said, 'Goodbye, ,' he always said, you

know, 'See you later, Jessie.' I just thought that was strange. "

The two University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate students,

described by CNN as having an on-again, off-again relationship, lived

together in a Champaign apartment. That's where, she said,

Kazmierczak kept two guns locked up -- apparently for protection,

said CNN.com.

Baty says he didn't do or say anything in his last days or even

during their last conversation early St. Valentine's Day that

provided any clues about what would unfold hours later, according to

the CNN report.

Baty said she thought authorities had " the wrong person " when her

boyfriend was fingered. She added, " He's not in DeKalb. "

But, in fact, he had returned to his and Baty's graduate school alma

mater, the NIU campus in DeKalb.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, Kazmierczak -- clad in black and carrying

a guitar case with a shotgun inside along with three guns tucked into

a belt -- burst into Cole Hall as a geology lecture was winding down.

He opened fire, and by the time it was over, five people were dead

and 20 were wounded. Kazmierczak then shot himself to death on the

lecture hall stage.

Baty says that's not the 27-year-old Steve Kazmierczak she knew.

Wearing an orange University of Illinois sweat shirt, Baty briefly

stepped out from her mother's home in Wonder Lake, Ill., about 70

miles northwest of Chicago, to address reporters there.

" You're presenting him like a monster, and he wasn't, " said Baty,

before retreating indoors.

Her family put a sign in the yard saying, " Our thoughts, prayers go

out to all the victims of the NIU incident. Please respect our

privacy as we need to grieve and mourn this tragic loss of so many

lives. "

Stopped taking Prozac

In an emotional interview on CNN, in which Baty wiped tears from her

eyes -- a peace ring visible on one of her fingers -- she said she

was baffled about Kazmierczak's actions.

" He was anything but a monster. He was probably the nicest, most

caring person ever. "

She went on to say " he was a worrier " and that Kazmierczak told her

he had " obsessive-compulsive tendencies " and that his parents

committed him as a teen to a group home because he was " unruly " and

used to cut himself.

Baty said he saw a psychiatrist monthly but stopped taking Prozac a

few weeks ago. She said the medicine " made him feel like a zombie. "

But Baty said that recently he was " a little quicker to get annoyed. "

" He wasn't erratic, " she said. " He wasn't delusional. "

Since the shooting, she has received several packages, apparently

from Kazmierczak, including a textbook about serial killers, a gun

holster and ammunition, items that puzzled her. She said she also

received a " goodbye " note.

The note included: " You are the best ! You've done so much for

me, and I truly do love you. "

Contributing: Main

Baty, girlfriend of Steve Kazmierczak, stands outside her

parents' Wonder Lake home on Sunday. She said on CNN that the last

time she spoke to Kazmierczak, he " told me not to forget about him "

and then he said " Goodbye, . " Baty said in the interview

she " thought that was strange " because her boyfriend of two years

never said 'goodbye, ' but rather 'see you later Jessie.'

(Sweda, Sun-Times/Courtesy

[Guest guest]

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http://www.suntimes.com:80/news/metro/799650,CST-NWS-NIU18.article

Ex: Campus killer called to say bye prior to shooting

NIU MASSACRE | Says he was a 'worrier' who spent time in a group home

February 18, 2008

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN, LISA DONOVAN AND MITCH DUDEK Staff Reporters

Hours before he walked into a Northern Illinois University lecture

hall and inexplicably started a shooting rampage that ended five

lives and his own, Steve Kazmierczak called one of the people he was

closest to and said what would be a final goodbye.

That's what the gunman's girlfriend of two years, Baty,

recalled Sunday in an interview with CNN.

" He called me at midnight and told me not to forget about him, " she

told CNN.

Then Kazmierczak told her, " Goodbye, , " Baty said in the

interview. " He never said, 'Goodbye, ,' he always said, you

know, 'See you later, Jessie.' I just thought that was strange. "

The two University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate students,

described by CNN as having an on-again, off-again relationship, lived

together in a Champaign apartment. That's where, she said,

Kazmierczak kept two guns locked up -- apparently for protection,

said CNN.com.

Baty says he didn't do or say anything in his last days or even

during their last conversation early St. Valentine's Day that

provided any clues about what would unfold hours later, according to

the CNN report.

Baty said she thought authorities had " the wrong person " when her

boyfriend was fingered. She added, " He's not in DeKalb. "

But, in fact, he had returned to his and Baty's graduate school alma

mater, the NIU campus in DeKalb.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, Kazmierczak -- clad in black and carrying

a guitar case with a shotgun inside along with three guns tucked into

a belt -- burst into Cole Hall as a geology lecture was winding down.

He opened fire, and by the time it was over, five people were dead

and 20 were wounded. Kazmierczak then shot himself to death on the

lecture hall stage.

Baty says that's not the 27-year-old Steve Kazmierczak she knew.

Wearing an orange University of Illinois sweat shirt, Baty briefly

stepped out from her mother's home in Wonder Lake, Ill., about 70

miles northwest of Chicago, to address reporters there.

" You're presenting him like a monster, and he wasn't, " said Baty,

before retreating indoors.

Her family put a sign in the yard saying, " Our thoughts, prayers go

out to all the victims of the NIU incident. Please respect our

privacy as we need to grieve and mourn this tragic loss of so many

lives. "

Stopped taking Prozac

In an emotional interview on CNN, in which Baty wiped tears from her

eyes -- a peace ring visible on one of her fingers -- she said she

was baffled about Kazmierczak's actions.

" He was anything but a monster. He was probably the nicest, most

caring person ever. "

She went on to say " he was a worrier " and that Kazmierczak told her

he had " obsessive-compulsive tendencies " and that his parents

committed him as a teen to a group home because he was " unruly " and

used to cut himself.

Baty said he saw a psychiatrist monthly but stopped taking Prozac a

few weeks ago. She said the medicine " made him feel like a zombie. "

But Baty said that recently he was " a little quicker to get annoyed. "

" He wasn't erratic, " she said. " He wasn't delusional. "

Since the shooting, she has received several packages, apparently

from Kazmierczak, including a textbook about serial killers, a gun

holster and ammunition, items that puzzled her. She said she also

received a " goodbye " note.

The note included: " You are the best ! You've done so much for

me, and I truly do love you. "

Contributing: Main

Baty, girlfriend of Steve Kazmierczak, stands outside her

parents' Wonder Lake home on Sunday. She said on CNN that the last

time she spoke to Kazmierczak, he " told me not to forget about him "

and then he said " Goodbye, . " Baty said in the interview

she " thought that was strange " because her boyfriend of two years

never said 'goodbye, ' but rather 'see you later Jessie.'

(Sweda, Sun-Times/Courtesy

[Guest guest]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

http://www.suntimes.com:80/news/metro/799650,CST-NWS-NIU18.article

Ex: Campus killer called to say bye prior to shooting

NIU MASSACRE | Says he was a 'worrier' who spent time in a group home

February 18, 2008

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN, LISA DONOVAN AND MITCH DUDEK Staff Reporters

Hours before he walked into a Northern Illinois University lecture

hall and inexplicably started a shooting rampage that ended five

lives and his own, Steve Kazmierczak called one of the people he was

closest to and said what would be a final goodbye.

That's what the gunman's girlfriend of two years, Baty,

recalled Sunday in an interview with CNN.

" He called me at midnight and told me not to forget about him, " she

told CNN.

Then Kazmierczak told her, " Goodbye, , " Baty said in the

interview. " He never said, 'Goodbye, ,' he always said, you

know, 'See you later, Jessie.' I just thought that was strange. "

The two University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate students,

described by CNN as having an on-again, off-again relationship, lived

together in a Champaign apartment. That's where, she said,

Kazmierczak kept two guns locked up -- apparently for protection,

said CNN.com.

Baty says he didn't do or say anything in his last days or even

during their last conversation early St. Valentine's Day that

provided any clues about what would unfold hours later, according to

the CNN report.

Baty said she thought authorities had " the wrong person " when her

boyfriend was fingered. She added, " He's not in DeKalb. "

But, in fact, he had returned to his and Baty's graduate school alma

mater, the NIU campus in DeKalb.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, Kazmierczak -- clad in black and carrying

a guitar case with a shotgun inside along with three guns tucked into

a belt -- burst into Cole Hall as a geology lecture was winding down.

He opened fire, and by the time it was over, five people were dead

and 20 were wounded. Kazmierczak then shot himself to death on the

lecture hall stage.

Baty says that's not the 27-year-old Steve Kazmierczak she knew.

Wearing an orange University of Illinois sweat shirt, Baty briefly

stepped out from her mother's home in Wonder Lake, Ill., about 70

miles northwest of Chicago, to address reporters there.

" You're presenting him like a monster, and he wasn't, " said Baty,

before retreating indoors.

Her family put a sign in the yard saying, " Our thoughts, prayers go

out to all the victims of the NIU incident. Please respect our

privacy as we need to grieve and mourn this tragic loss of so many

lives. "

Stopped taking Prozac

In an emotional interview on CNN, in which Baty wiped tears from her

eyes -- a peace ring visible on one of her fingers -- she said she

was baffled about Kazmierczak's actions.

" He was anything but a monster. He was probably the nicest, most

caring person ever. "

She went on to say " he was a worrier " and that Kazmierczak told her

he had " obsessive-compulsive tendencies " and that his parents

committed him as a teen to a group home because he was " unruly " and

used to cut himself.

Baty said he saw a psychiatrist monthly but stopped taking Prozac a

few weeks ago. She said the medicine " made him feel like a zombie. "

But Baty said that recently he was " a little quicker to get annoyed. "

" He wasn't erratic, " she said. " He wasn't delusional. "

Since the shooting, she has received several packages, apparently

from Kazmierczak, including a textbook about serial killers, a gun

holster and ammunition, items that puzzled her. She said she also

received a " goodbye " note.

The note included: " You are the best ! You've done so much for

me, and I truly do love you. "

Contributing: Main

Baty, girlfriend of Steve Kazmierczak, stands outside her

parents' Wonder Lake home on Sunday. She said on CNN that the last

time she spoke to Kazmierczak, he " told me not to forget about him "

and then he said " Goodbye, . " Baty said in the interview

she " thought that was strange " because her boyfriend of two years

never said 'goodbye, ' but rather 'see you later Jessie.'

(Sweda, Sun-Times/Courtesy