NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Former NFL star Steve McNair was shot dead in his sleep last week by a 20-year-old girlfriend distraught about mounting financial problems and her belief that he was seeing someone else, police said Wednesday.

Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas said it appears McNair, 36, was asleep when he was shot four times by Sahel Kazemi.

At one point, Kazemi told an associate that her "personal life was all screwed up," Police Chief Ronal Serpas said. She had mounting debts and had been unable to sell her car. Her roommate was moving, which would have doubled her rent.

Kazemi also told friends that she believed McNair was involved with another woman.

"We do know that she was clearly sending a message during the last five to seven days of her life that things were going bad quickly," Serpas said, though there was no indication she told anyone she planned to harm McNair.

A 9 millimeter gun found at McNair's apartment was purchased for $100 by Kazemi last Thursday at about 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Dave and Buster's where she worked at Opry Mills Mall.

Bullets that killed McNair and Kazemi were fired from that weapon, said police. Trace elements indicative of gunshot residue were found on Kazemi's left hand. No gunshot residue was found on McNair's hand.

On Friday, Kazemi told an acquaintance, "I should just end it all." She was supposed to work until 1:00 a.m. Saturday but asked to go home early.

She clocked out just after 10 p.m. on Friday, when police believe she went to her Hermitage apartment.

Around 11 p.m. she went to McNair's apartment located at Second Avenue South and Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. McNair arrived at the apartment between 1:30-2 a.m. Saturday.

Shortly thereafter, police believe McNair fell asleep on the couch, Kazemi pulled out the gun, fired four shots, killed McNair and then turned the gun on herself.

"The first shot was to Mr. McNair's head from the left-to-right, then two more shots to the chest, and then the fourth shot to the right temple was close enough to leave gun residue evidence. She tried to stage her body falling into McNair's lap, but slid to the floor. No question that she shot herself," said Serpas.

Police said there is no indication that there was any tampering of evidence at the crime scene.

After talking to Kazemi's friends, police said in the past five to seven days she was stressing about her relationship with McNair.

Police said there were no indications that anyone else was at the apartment when the shooting occurred. No suicide note was left by Kazemi.

McNair's Wife Wasn't Aware Of Kazemi Relationship

An associate said Wednesday that the wife of McNair didn't know about Kazemi before she was found dead alongside her husband on the Fourth of July.

Mike Mu, who has worked with McNair's charitable foundation for years, said Mechelle McNair "didn't know who this girl is."

Mechelle McNair, who has not spoken publicly since the shooting, has been described by people close to her as being very upset and distraught. Agent Bus Cook said McNair's wife was "in and out" of it in the hours after the shooting.

Kazemi's family told reporters that the woman was so confident McNair was divorcing his wife of 12 years that she was preparing to sell her furniture and move in with the former quarterback.

Mu is handling media inquiries for Thursday night's memorial service in Nashville. A funeral service will be held Saturday in Mississippi.

The close friend who reported McNair's death to 911 defended his friend since their days playing football at Alcorn State to The Tennessean. Robert Gaddy, who did not immediately return a text message to his cell phone from The Associated Press on Wednesday, said the the McNairs' Nashville home was on the market because they were looking for a new house.

"People need to quit talking about what they don't know. Mac never said anything to me about he was going to get a divorce, and ever since this has all happened everybody is trying to paint a certain picture and they need to talk about what they know," Gaddy told the newspaper.

The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback was being remembered Wednesday at the stadium where he played much of his career. The Tennessee Titans opened LP Field for fans to watch video highlights of McNair's 13-year NFL career, look at photos of the quarterback and had a book for them to write messages that will be given to the family.

The McNairs married in 1997, and Mechelle is the mother of two of his four sons. She met McNair while both were students at Alcorn State, though she also studied nursing in Nashville and became a nurse while he played for the Titans.

Mechelle McNair tended his numerous injuries at home, changing bandages and even helping with intravenous fluids in 2001 when her husband needed I.V. antibiotics for an infection that developed after shoulder surgery.

There will be a public memorial for McNair from 3 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Thursday at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Mount Zion Baptist Church is at 7594 Old Hickory Blvd. in Whites Creek.

A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the church. This will be broadcast on Channel 4 and livestreamed on WSMV.com.

Another visitation is scheduled Thursday for the Lewis and Wright Funeral Home on Clarksville Highway from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Funeral arrangements in Mississippi are being held Saturday at 11 a.m. in Hattiesburg at Reed Green Coliseum at the University of Southern Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, fans are asked to make a donation to the following address:

Steve McNair Foundation
1 Willow Bend Drive
Hattiesburg, Miss. 39402