Killer ‘told me not to forget him’

THE girlfriend of the man who killed five people and himself at Northern Illinois University said on Sunday that he called her early on Valentine’s Day, the day of the shooting, to say goodbye.

Steven Kazmierczak “called me at midnight and told me not to forget about him”, said Jessica Baty, 28. She had no indication he was planning anything.

Investigators still have not determined why Kazmierczak, 27, opened fire in a lecture hall at his and Ms Baty’s alma mater.

“The person I knew was not the one who went into Cole Hall and did that,” said Ms Baty. “He was anything but a monster. He was probably the... nicest, [most] caring person ever.”

The day of the shooting or the day after, Ms Baty received a package from Kazmierczak containing two textbooks, a cellphone and what she described as a “goodbye note”.

“You’ve done so much for me,” the note said, according to Ms Baty.

“You will make an excellent psychologist and social worker someday.”

Another package contained a gun holster and ammunition.

Authorities have speculated that the couple might have split up just before the shooting. Ms Baty described an on-off relationship and said she and Mr Kazmierczak most recently had been living together.