http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/sikh-temple-shooting-175002467.htmlAt least seven people were killed, including the suspected gunman, in a shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., south of Milwaukee on Sunday.
According to police, a 911 dispatcher received multiple calls from the temple at approximately 10:25 a.m. local time. An officer who responded to the scene engaged with the suspected gunman in the parking lot. The veteran officer was shot multiple times and is in surgery at Milwaukee's Froedtert Hospital, according to Greenfield (Wis.) Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt. His condition is not known.
The suspect was "put down" and is presumed dead, Wentlandt said.
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. There were initial, unconfirmed reports of multiple shooters and a hostage situation, though the police spokesman would not confirm those reports. "We have not identified additional shooters," Wentlandt said.
A spokesman for Froedtert Hospital said a total of three victims were admitted in critical condition—two with gunshot wounds to the face and one with gunshot wounds to the abdomen. Other area hospitals were told to prepare for as many as 20 victims.
Dozens of worshipers, including women and children, were gathering for a meal before an 11:30 a.m. service when the shooting occurred. There are about 500 members in the congregation, officials say. Sikhism is a 500-year-old monotheist faith with about 27 million followers worldwide, and 500,000 in the United States.
According to local news reports, police and law enforcement officials are now interviewing worshipers in the basement of the temple.
In a statement, Wis. Gov. Scott Walker said his office is working with the FBI and local law enforcement in its investigation. According to ABC News, federal agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms bureau were sent to the scene of the shooting.
"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."
Since 9/11, Sikh rights groups in the United States have reported a rise in bias attacks. There have been more than 700 incidents 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."
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Topic: Shooting at Sikh temple: 7 dead, including suspected gunman, police say (Read 4783 times)