Police Can't Find Motive in NIU Shooting

Gunman covered tracks, pulling hard drive and phone card
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 20, 2008 8:53 AM CST
Police Can't Find Motive in NIU Shooting
In this image made from TV and provided by CNN, Jessica Baty, former girlfriend of NIU shooter Steven Kazmierczak, talks to CNN on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008 in Wonderlake, Ill. Baty's story as told to CNN contradicted what she had told investigators. (AP Photo/CNN)   (Associated Press)

The student who killed five at Northern Illinois University last week took pains to stump investigators ahead of time, police say. Steven Kazmierczak pulled his computer’s hard drive and his phone’s SIM card; he also revealed little in a package to his former girlfriend. "The one thing I want to know is motive," NIU Police Chief Donald Grady said today. But he couldn't "even begin to assume a motive yet."

Cops also blame Kazmierczak’s ex, Jessica Baty, for clouding their probe, saying she gave conflicting stories to police and CNN—first saying he had been acting erratic, then saying he hadn't. “I suppose you could call that being uncooperative,” Grady said. He added that the investigation will continue for at least 3 more weeks, regardless of cost to the university. (More Steven Kazmierczak stories.)

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