Shooting at NIU

[whitesoxfan101]

Well, Cole has been there awhile, I want to say it was built in the 60's, clearly that isn't how long the school has been around. Altgeld is over 100 years old and housed the entire school itself when NIU was first established. I've probably been in that lecture hall (I believe it is the "Jameson" room of Cole Hall) close to if not over 100 times for various classes I took while at NIU. The room is actually more slanted than the picture would lead you to believe, but it is not nearly as angled as more modern stadium style seating lecture halls or theaters. From memory I would say the stage is almost even in height with the back of the room, (where the students enter and exit) so when the shooter entered and opened fire on the stage he would be shooting slightly down on the room, really making it nearly impossible to miss with a shotgun. The whole thing makes me sick.

 

You are correct on all counts, I knew it was built in the 50's or 60's, but there have been 3 or 4 alterations of the building on that site since the school opened in the 1890's, as far as I'm aware.

 

In other news, what has been clear to us hear in DeKalb almost since it happened is now being admitted by the investigators: the sicko did all he could to hide any signs of a motive.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/c...0,2846139.story

 

Police believe NIU gunman planned to cover tracks on motive

Computer hard drive, cell phone chip removed

By Steve Schmadeke | Tribune reporter

February 20, 2008

 

Police think the former academic star who shot and killed five students last week at Northern Illinois University took steps to thwart investigators trying to figure out why he did it.

 

In addition to removing the hard drive from his laptop computer, Steven Kazmierczak also removed the SIM card—a key computer chip—from his cell phone, a police source said.

 

Police also said his former girlfriend's account to CNN of Kazmierczak's final weeks differed from the one she gave to investigators.

 

Locations: Main campus in DeKalb. Outreach centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford and Oregon.

 

Degrees: Seven degree-granting colleges, 55 undergraduate majors, 75 graduate programs

 

Students: 91 percent from Illinois, 862 international students from 88 nations

 

Source: NIU

 

Complete coverage of shootings at NIU

The result is that police still do not have a theory as to why Kazmierczak opened fire on the crowded lecture hall.

 

"That's the one thing I want to know more than anything is motive," Northern Illinois University Police Chief Donald Grady said Tuesday. "We don't have anything to know or even begin to assume a motive yet."

 

Among the other unanswered questions are why Kazmierczak targeted that particular building and class and why he carried out the massacre on Valentine's Day, Grady said. There were no clues in the note or package he sent his former girlfriend shortly before the attack, he said.

 

"He didn't tell people what he was going to do," he said. "And he took steps to thwart any investigation."

 

Investigators have obtained several search warrants, Grady said. None of the search warrants have originated out of DeKalb County so far, but Kazmierczak's Honda was searched by investigators. The vehicle was listed in a 2006 traffic ticket as a white 2001 model.

 

Kazmierczak's computer has been turned over to the FBI, said Joe Cullen, DeKalb County first assistant state's attorney. Authorities also plan to get a search warrant for Kazmierczak's cell phone, Cullen said.

 

Grady said police still had hundreds of people to interview and toward the top of the list was Kazmierczak's former girlfriend, Jessica Baty, who in the CNN interview contradicted earlier statements to police that her former boyfriend had acted erratically after going off his medication.

 

"I suppose you could call that being uncooperative," Grady said.

 

Police are working to obtain Kazmierczak's full medical records—they do not know yet if he went off his medication on his own or was ordered to do so by a physician—but the priority was to interview people while their memories were still fresh, Grady said.

 

Grady expected that the investigation will keep going strong for at least three more weeks and he said police will issue a report when it is finished. At this point, he said, the university is not worried about costs.

 

"We want to know what it is we can do, if anything, to prevent this kind of thing from ever happening again," he said.

 

Grady met Tuesday with parents of the deceased students and ushered them around campus to view various memorials erected in their children's honor.

 

He said police also have heard reports that a woman, carrying no books, was at the back of the auditorium when the shooting started and began crying and ran out.

 

I take back feeling bad for the girlfriend after reading this information. The news of him hiding the computer hard drive had been known almost since the beginning, but I wasn't aware he removed his cell phone chip (don't even know how you would go at doing that). One thing is clear though, the fact he did all of this to hide a motive, as well as drove up here to do the shooting, proves there clearly was a blatant motive. And that last setence, in bold, is another case of burying the lead. Who was the girl at the back of the auditorium? Why did the writer just randomly mention it in the last sentence? This girlfriend, between the CNN interview and now this, must be considered at least suspecious.

Edited February 19, 2008 by whitesoxfan101

[Balta1701]

Who was the girl at the back of the auditorium? Why did the writer just randomly mention it in the last sentence? This girlfriend, between the CNN interview and now this, must be considered at least suspecious.

The writer buried it because it's probably likely that it didn't happen. There are always lots of unverifiable rumors that spring up in cases like this. I can't guarantee it didn't, but the more hectic things become, the more people are involved, the more wierd things people are going to remember seeing (Puffs of smoke on the grassy knoll, demolition charges beneath building 7, etc.). If there was a real focus on that event, if there were a lot of witnesses or actual witnesses going on record, it probably would merit its own article.

[JoeCredeYes]

You are correct on all counts, I knew it was built in the 50's or 60's, but there have been 3 or 4 alterations of the building on that site since the school opened in the 1890's, as far as I'm aware.

 

In other news, what has been clear to us hear in DeKalb almost since it happened is now being admitted by the investigators: the sicko did all he could to hide any signs of a motive.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/c...0,2846139.story

I take back feeling bad for the girlfriend after reading this information. The news of him hiding the computer hard drive had been known almost since the beginning, but I wasn't aware he removed his cell phone chip (don't even know how you would go at doing that). One thing is clear though, the fact he did all of this to hide a motive, as well as drove up here to do the shooting, proves there clearly was a blatant motive. And that last setence, in bold, is another case of burying the lead. Who was the girl at the back of the auditorium? Why did the writer just randomly mention it in the last sentence? This girlfriend, between the CNN interview and now this, must be considered at least suspecious.

 

Hmm, yeah have to agree that last quote is quite suspicious. And so is this girlfriend. I remember reading that she received a "goodbye" phonecall from him before he did all this. Seems to me like if somebody I was in any relationship with called to say "goodbye" I would frantically try to find out what they meant by that. Some phones have a SIM card in the back when you take off the battery cover, it's so you can switch it in different phones and still keep all your saved numbers etc. I'm pretty sure many phones don't have them. This whole thing makes no sense. We're all pretty sure he didn't know anybody in that class. It doesn't seem like he would have a grudge with anybody in there. Then again I guess this will probably never make any sense.

 

[Texsox]

Perhaps the shooter tipped someone off to come witness the massacre and that is the "woman in back". However, that seems reminiscent of the "woman in red". I wonder if someone isn't trying to push some similarities. I think Balta is also close. Sometimes reporters have this item they do not know what to do and they try and find a place to toss it. Perhaps the reporter had another three or four paragraphs explaining more but they were cut to fit the space.

 

Almost every cell phone made in the past ten years has a sim card. Interesting he pulled his. I'm wondering if that doesn't point to a possible accomplice or perhaps to some paranoid state.

[Texsox]

From a friend of mine who works at the library at NIU

 

For anyone who wishes to support NIU, there are a

couple of websites I will list here.

 

The site below was just created yesterday and it's

already been visited 21,000 times and sold 1100

memorial t-shirts.

 

http://www.niumemorialshirts.com/links.html

 

Proceeds will be split between a memorial fund and a

February 14 Scholarship Fund.

 

If you would like to express condolences, there is an

electronic guest book here:

 

http://www.legacy.com/GB/GuestbookView.asp...Id=000103435559

 

 

A Scoutmaster's Minute:

 

The Virginia Tech backetball coach contacted NIU's,

their football coach called NIU's, the Library Dean,

President, etc., etc. Each VT person was contacting

their counterpart at NIU, sharing stories and

providing strength to one another following the

February 14 attack at Northern Illinois University.

It was an amazing and inspiring thing.

 

The VT tragedy was less than a year ago, and in many

ways the NIU tragedy brought back those memories and

pain to many on the VT campus. It was almost like

reliving the horror all over again.

 

The two campuses are helping one another make sense

out of something completely senseless and tragic.

 

The Hokies and Huskies have become one community.

Though hundreds of miles apart, they share a united

spirit. It is a unique process of healing one another

through an amazing example of brotherhood and

community strength.

 

Sometimes we are confronted with challenges in our

lives that are bigger than we are. By accepting help

or providing help, together a group of people can

accomplish almost anything.

 

Whether it's climbing a mountain in New Mexico or

confronting an emotional loss, teamwork, community,

brotherhood, are all words that involve people sharing

something together and helping one another.

 

Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Helping other people at all

times, are all linked to community and brotherhood and

are all a part of Scouting's ideals.

 

 

YIS,

Cliff Golden

Scoutmaster Troop 33

DeKalb, Illinois

 

Founders Memorial Library

Northern Illinois University

DeKalb, Illinois

[G&T]

I just saw on Fox News that they are demolishing the building the shooting took place in. Sounded like they building a new one called "Memorial Hall."

[juddling]

I just saw on Fox News that they are demolishing the building the shooting took place in. Sounded like they building a new one called "Memorial Hall."

 

 

I heard on the way home tonight that Blago is asking the GA for $40 million in emergency funds to raze the building and put up a new "Memorial Hall". I don't know the building (is it old, falling apart or what) but considering the state really doesn't have any 'extra' money is it really necessary to raze the current building and put up a new one???? change the name of the existing building...doesn't cost anything except maybe a few signs. Maybe close the room where the shooting took place and turn it into some sort of memorial for the victims..but a whole new building?????? Unless the building was scheduled to be demolished in the next few years, i think it's a waste of money the state probably doesn't have.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I heard on the way home tonight that Blago is asking the GA for $40 million in emergency funds to raze the building and put up a new "Memorial Hall". I don't know the building (is it old, falling apart or what) but considering the state really doesn't have any 'extra' money is it really necessary to raze the current building and put up a new one???? change the name of the existing building...doesn't cost anything except maybe a few signs. Maybe close the room where the shooting took place and turn it into some sort of memorial for the victims..but a whole new building?????? Unless the building was scheduled to be demolished in the next few years, i think it's a waste of money the state probably doesn't have.

It's flat out wasteful spending. With all do respect to those who lost their lives, is completely destroying the building really necessary? The room can be remodeled into offices or something else. We have bigger needs in this state than to spend money on a new building.... let's rebuild every house where a murder is ever committed.

[EvilMonkey]

I heard on the way home tonight that Blago is asking the GA for $40 million in emergency funds to raze the building and put up a new "Memorial Hall". I don't know the building (is it old, falling apart or what) but considering the state really doesn't have any 'extra' money is it really necessary to raze the current building and put up a new one???? change the name of the existing building...doesn't cost anything except maybe a few signs. Maybe close the room where the shooting took place and turn it into some sort of memorial for the victims..but a whole new building?????? Unless the building was scheduled to be demolished in the next few years, i think it's a waste of money the state probably doesn't have.

I agree Bill, you can't go tearing down buildings every time there is a tragedy inside. Maybe Blago would want to pay the $40 million out of his campaign fund? His blatant pandering for votes and searching for some legacy or way to keep himself in the voters good graces for when the police come calling is just sickening. Hey Blago, STFU and quit spending money we don't have to try and keep yourself elected.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I agree Bill, you can't go tearing down buildings every time there is a tragedy inside. Maybe Blago would want to pay the $40 million out of his campaign fund?

 

Rezko might be able to help out

[whitesoxfan101]

This was a big error by Peters and Blago (surprise, surprise on the 2nd count). The building needs a MAJOR interior revitilization (it's a hole in there, falling apart big time), but the exterior is fine and it doesn't need to be torn down. The interior needs to be remodeled and reshaped to not look like the ghosts of Cole Hall past, but that would cost WAY WAY less than 40 million dollars to do, even with a very nice memorial in mind. I don't get it, plus keep in mind we raised nearly 8 million dollars for the new athletic center at Huskie Stadium, I'm sure we could raise far more than that for the cause of a state of the art, re-done on the interior Cole Hall.

Edited February 29, 2008 by whitesoxfan101

[HuskyCaucasian]

s keep in mind we raised nearly 8 million dollars for the new athletic center at Huskie Stadium, I'm sure we could raise far more than that for the cause of a state of the art, re-done on the interior Cole Hall.

Agreed. i had a friend go to school there and my sisters BF goes there. I'd be willing to donate $100 towards it.