Begin quote regarding Sikh shooting victims in Wisconsin:
Shooting at Sikh temple: 7 dead, including suspected gunman, police say
A worshiper prays outside a Sikh temple after the shooting. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/AP)
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, police said. 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 shot and killed by a second officer, police 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.
The FBI is treating the case as a
"domestic terrorist incident," and are leading the investigation. The
names of the victims 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
gurudwara, 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.
"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."
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, 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.
There is no known threat against Sikh temples in New York, the NYPD said.
end quote from:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/sikh-temple-shooting-175002467.html
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