Shooting at Sikh temple: 7 dead, including suspected gunman, police say

Police on scene of shooting at Sikh temple in Wisconsin (WXYZ-Detroit Videos)

By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News

At 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, 911 dispatchers 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.

A worshiper prays outside a Sikh temple after the shooting. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel/AP)

 Dozens of worshipers, including women and children, were gathering for a meal before an 11:30 a.m. prayer service 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 Obama was notified of the shooting shortly before 1 p.m. (ET) by chief counterterrorism advisor John Brennan, a senior administration official told Yahoo News.

In a statement, 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. According to ABC News, federal agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms bureau were sent to the scene of the shooting.
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, and 500,000 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.

There is no known threat against Sikh temples in New York, the NYPD said.