Records: Kristopher Kramer asked police ‘to shoot him’ after recent 911 call. ‘He needed help, not bullets’

Those in a mental health crisis or in need of immediate help can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, the Illinois Warm Line at 866-359-7953, or contact Northwestern Medicine Ben Gordon Center at 815-756-4875.

DeKALB — DeKalb police were called to Kristopher Kramer’s home four times since June for various reasons, including domestic disturbances and an August incident when police said he threatened suicide and asked authorities “to shoot him,” records show.

Another 911 call was made a week before a DeKalb police officer fatally shot him during an Oct. 25 domestic dispute in which police said he brandished a sword, threatened himself and others and refused orders to put down the weapon.

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Kramer’s sister and the mothers of his children say the 33-year-old at times had issues with alcohol and questioned his mental stability. They also questioned the police use of lethal force that ended his life.

Police said Kramer early Monday morning stepped out of his home in the 100 block of Tilton Park Drive wielding a sword in both hands above his head and refused officers’ orders to drop it as he approached them.

DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd said three officers each used a different weapon on Kramer: a Taser stun gun, a bean-bag projectile weapon and a police gun. A single bullet hit Kramer in the chest, and he later was pronounced dead at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital.

According to DeKalb County court records, Kramer was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed 120 pounds.

Kramer’s 20-year-old sister, Sydney Lerma, said he had previous run-ins with police and he was subdued without officers using a weapon.

“I just don’t understand why that couldn’t have happened this time,” Lerma, of Rockford, said. “You know, my brother’s tiny. I’m sure the Taser would’ve done it. I just want to make it make sense.”

With a 13-year age difference between Lerma and Kramer, she said he was more like a father figure for her growing up. Despite typical sibling bickering, Lerma said she and Kramer were close.

“I irritated him on purpose,” Lerma said with a chuckle. “That was my job.”

Records show history of crisis at Kramer home

According to DeKalb Police Department records the Daily Chronicle obtained in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, police were called to Kramer’s Tilton Park home on June 1, Aug. 28, Sept. 10 and Oct. 18.

Lerma said she believes Kramer’s recent mental state “was really bad” and thought he had been in a downward spiral for the previous few months. Nevertheless, she said she “couldn’t believe it” when she heard how Kramer died.

“Because how in DeKalb, Illinois ... my brother of all people, of all places? I was just in shock,” Lerma said.

Aryelle Vargas, who has a son with Kramer, said they co-parented well together, but she also questioned his mental state.

Vargas shared a photograph taken of the three of them on their son’s first day of kindergarten in mid-August. She said the photo was taken two weeks after Kramer attempted suicide.

“They should have not used lethal force on him,” Vargas said of the DeKalb police. “They should not have done that. He needed help, not bullets.”

Kramer also shared twin daughters with Kathy Owen, who also said this week that they co-parented well together. Owen said she wants people to know Kramer was loved.

She said Kramer saw his kids every weekend.

“He was my best friend, my twins’ dad, and he took my heart with him when he left,” Owen said.

DeKalb police have not released officer body camera footage, incident reports and audio of the 911 call that led to the fatal shooting, citing the Illinois State Police’s ongoing investigation.

The officer who fired the fatal shot has been assigned desk duty, Byrd said.

“Right now it’s an ongoing investigation,” Byrd said. “In my opinion at least, I would never release a video without talking to the family of the victim. Because at the end of the day, if it was me and I was the parent, I don’t want to watch something so traumatic happen to a family member over and over again.”

Byrd said Thursday he has seen the video, but declined to characterize it, saying it “would not be prudent” and could “impede” the Illinois State Police investigation. He also declined to say in what order police officers fired the weapons.

Byrd did say he’s spoken with Kramer’s family.

“We have talked, had a conversation with the family,” Byrd said. “I can’t speak about the conversation in detail, but of course they’re upset. Who wouldn’t be?”

[ DeKalb man fatally shot by DeKalb police officer after threats with samurai sword, says police chief ]

Previous 911 calls

According to 911 records, DeKalb police were called to Kramer’s home June 1 after a woman told police he had threatened to throw her belongings “out on the curb.” DeKalb police reports state Kramer was “less than polite.”

The woman did not respond to the Daily Chronicle’s requests for comment.

On Aug. 28, another woman called police at about 6:30 p.m. after she said she received a suicide note from Kramer via the social media app, Snapchat, along with a video of Kramer sitting in his car in his garage, records show. Police reported the woman told her Kramer recently had started drinking alcohol again.

“Kristopher was in his garage, yelling at us to get off his property,” police wrote in the Aug. 28 report. “He stated we were trespassing on his property. We tried to explain why we were there and he did not listen.”

Police said Kramer attempted to close his garage door but an officer kept it open. Police said Kramer refused to speak with paramedics and appeared intoxicated.

Officers restrained Kramer “by his arms” and double-lock handcuffed him, reports state. He was strapped to a cot and taken to Kishwaukee Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

“Kristopher had to be further restrained by hospital staff and security,” one officer wrote in an Aug. 28 report. “He asked to leave the hospital so he could ‘go kill himself’ and asked for us to shoot him.”

The woman called police again about 6:45 p.m. Sept. 10, records show, telling officers Kramer had threatened suicide again. She told police Kramer had just gotten out of rehab.

“He’s just been throwing stuff all over his apartment,” the woman told the dispatcher, records show. “His friend’s there. He’s saying he’s just going to kill himself.”

Witnesses told police they saw Kramer “passed out drunk in his bed after drinking close to a whole bottle of Patron,” records state. They expressed concern Kramer might “become combative or uncooperative” if police approached him. Officers did not take Kramer to the hospital that time.

A week before Kramer was killed, he called DeKalb police at 1:08 a.m. Oct. 18 about a domestic dispute, records show.

Police said Kramer wanted to “give his side of the story.” A woman told police Kramer pushed her out of a room during a verbal argument.

Kramer does not have criminal domestic-related charges or felony convictions locally, according to DeKalb County court records. His criminal history includes traffic violations, and orders in 2016 and 2017 to pay child support. On Feb. 26, 2016, Kramer also pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor theft after stealing two W-2 tax documents from two different men. He was ordered by DeKalb County Judge Tom Doherty to pay $500 to them both.

According to Kramer’s obituary, he was born in Woodland, California. He attended DeKalb High School and Kishwaukee College and worked at 3M in DeKalb. Kramer enjoyed gaming, cooking and spending time with his kids and family. Lerma said her brother also liked anime.

A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Olson Funeral and Cremation Services’s Quiram Sycamore Chapel, 1245 Somonauk St., Sycamore. Family friends also created an online fundraiser to help Kramer’s immediate family pay for his funeral expenses.