 |
| See More Stories Here |
At least seven people were
killed, including the suspected gunman, in a mass shooting at a Sikh
temple in Oak Creek, Wis., south of Milwaukee on Sunday.
According to police, 911
dispatchers received multiple calls from the temple at approximately
10:25 a.m. local time. An officer who responded to the scene was
treating a victim when he was "ambushed" by the suspected gunman in the
parking lot, Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards said. The veteran
officer was shot multiple times and rushed to Milwaukee's Froedtert
Hospital where he underwent surgery, Edwards said.
The suspect was shot and killed by a second officer, police said. The gunman was not identified, and no motive was released.
Tactical units conducting a sweep of the 17,000-square-foot temple
discovered four bodies inside and three—including the gunman—in the
parking lot. Edwards said "weapons" were recovered, but would not
elaborate. According to CNN, two semi-automatic handguns were recovered
at the scene, and member of the temple described the gunman as tall male
with what appeared to be a "9/11 tattoo."
There were initial, unconfirmed reports of multiple shooters and a
hostage situation, though police said they believe there was just one
gunman.
A spokesman for Froedtert Hospital said a total of three victims,
including the officer, were admitted—two with gunshot wounds to the face
and one with gunshot wounds to the abdomen. All three are in critical
condition, the spokesman said. Other area hospitals were initially told
to prepare for as many as 20 victims, though it appears that figure was
precautionary.
Law enforcement officials are treating the case as an "act of
domestic terrorism," police said, and the FBI is leading the
investigation. The names of the victims in Sunday's shooting were not
released.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Satwant Kaleka, the president of the temple, was one of the victims
taken to Froedtert Hospital, according to his nephew, Gurmit Kaleka.
Dozens of worshipers, including women and children, were gathering
for a meal before an 11:30 a.m. prayer service at the temple, or
gurdwara, when the shooting occurred. There are about 500 members in the
congregation, officials said.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as worshipers reportedly hid
inside closets within the building after the gunman opened fire inside.
President Barack Obama was notified of the shooting shortly before 1
p.m. (ET) by chief counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, a senior
administration official told Yahoo News.
"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that
tragically took so many lives in Wisconsin," Obama said. "At this
difficult time, the people of Oak Creek must know that the American
people have them in our thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to
the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded.
My
administration will provide whatever support is necessary to the
officials who are responding to this tragic shooting and moving forward
with an investigation. As we mourn this loss which took place at a house
of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by
Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family."
Mitt Romney released a statement, too. "This was a senseless act of
violence and a tragedy that should never befall any house of worship,"
Romney said. "Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the
entire Oak Creek Sikh community. We join Americans everywhere in
mourning those who lost their lives and in prayer for healing in the
difficult days ahead."
Wis. Gov. Scott Walker said his office is working with the FBI and local law enforcement in its investigation.
"Our hearts go out to the victims
and their families as we all struggle to comprehend the evil that
begets this terrible violence," Walker said. "At the same time, we are
filled with gratitude for our first responders, who show bravery and
selflessness as they put aside their own safety to protect our neighbors
and friends."
The Indian Embassy in Washington called it a "tragic incident" and said it has been in touch with the National Security Council and local authorities to monitor the situation.
Sunday's shooting comes less than a month after the Aurora, Colo., theater massacre, when 12 people were killed and 58 wounded during a midnight screening of "Dark Knight Rises."
Sikhism is a 500-year-old
monotheist faith with about 27 million followers worldwide, including
about 300,000 in the United States.
Since 9/11, Sikh groups in the
United States have reported a rise in bias attacks. There have been more
than 700 reports of hate-related incidents against Sikhs since the
Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to the Associated Press.
"Sikhs don't practice the same religion as Muslims," the AP noted, "but
their long beards and turbans often cause them to be mistaken for
Muslims, advocates say."
In the wake of the shooting in
Wisconsin, law enforcement officials in other cities, including New
York City, increased patrols near Sikh temples on Sunday. However,
there is no known threat against Sikh temples in New York, the NYPD
said. Source : YahooNews
Advertisement
