The authorities on Friday released photographs taken from a store surveillance video and notes written by a gunman as they continued to piece together what led the man to kill eight people and himself in a mall rampage this week, the New York Times reported.

The pictures, the first official images released, show the gunman, whom the police have identified as Robert A. Hawkins, 19, entering the Von Maur department store, raising an assault rifle and taking aim.

In the first photograph, Hawkins appears to be unarmed as he enters the store in a black sweatshirt and sneakers. In the second picture, he again enters the store, this time apparently with a weapon tucked under his right arm. In the third photo, he is outside the store's third-floor elevator with the rifle raised, taking aim.

The photographs help to explain a narrative the authorities have been assembling since Wednesday afternoon, when the shootings occurred at Von Maur, an anchor store at the Westroads Mall on the west side of the city.

The police also released two notes from Hawkins and a will scribbled on loose-leaf paper without punctuation.

In one note, directed to friends, Hawkins said: "I know everyone will remember me as some sort of monster, but please understand that I just don't want to be a burden on the ones that I care for my entire life." He also mused that he might become famous.

In a message to family, Hawkins wrote that he did not want anyone to miss him. "I don't blame any one of you for disowning me," he said, adding: "I'm so sorry for this. I just snapped."

In his will, Hawkins left his car and other belongings to his mother. He also wrote: "I love you mommy. I love you dad."

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