NIU shooter's writings claim empathy

DEKALB, Ill., April 20 (UPI) -- Steven Kazmierczak, the shooter behind the massacre at Northern Illinois University, claimed to be an empathetic individual, documents show.

The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that in graduate school applications, the 27-year-old described himself as a "sensitive individual" who was rarely understood and occasionally victimized in his youth.

"For as long as I can remember, I have always been an extremely sensitive individual, and feel as though I am able to empathize with other people's emotional and social needs," Kazmierczak wrote. "However, some of my peers were not very understanding or accepting, and I feel as though I was victimized to a certain degree during my adolescent years."

Kazmierczak's father, Robert, said the documents were accurate in their portrayal of his son, who killed five students and injured 16 others before taking his own life two months ago.

"We did everything we could to help him. My wife and I worked very hard to help my son. I thought he was doing well," he told the Tribune.