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DEKALB-- Thursday, all we knew of the gunman was that he was a graduate student at N.I.U. last year.

His name wasn't released until Friday morning. But as the day went on we learned a lot more about who Steven Kazmierczak was.

The 27-year-old behind the mass murder of five N.I.U. students, an attack that left 16 others hurt, was familiar with Northern's campus. He spent all of undergrad, and one year of graduate school, here.

"Actually, there were no red flags," said NIU Police Chief Don Grady. "He was an outstanding student. He was an awarded student. He was someone who was revered by the staff and faculty here, and students alike."

Kazmierczak transferred to the University of Illinois this year, but would have known N.I.U.'s campus well, spending years here as a student.

Police say he came into Cole Hall, went through an exit door and onto the stage of the lecture hall. Then he began firing.

Pecatonica native and Burpee Museum volunteer, Joe Peterson, was teaching the class. He was shot in the shoulder. But Burpee staff tells us he was released from the hospital Thursday night.

Police say they are not sure what made Kazmierczak plan the deadly ambush. But he had taken medication and recently stopped.

"Those close to him describe his behavior the last couple of weeks as erratic," added Grady.

Police in Florida were asked to speak with his father who lives there. He told reporters that this is a very hard time right now.

Police say Kazmierczak had four guns, a shotgun and three handguns. Police say all of them were bought legall from a dealer in the Champaign-Urbana area just days ago.

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