Mass Shooting at Sikh Temple in Milwaukee

[dean mclean]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-...-least-7-dead/

(CBS/AP) OAK CREEK, Wis. - At least seven people have been killed in shootings at a Sikh temple outside of Milwaukee.

The shootings took place at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.

Greenfield Police Chief Brad Wentlandt said multiple 911 calls were received this morning about a gunman or gunmen. He said the first police officer responding to the calls engaged an active shooter at the temple. The officer was shot multiple times, but returned fire, and the suspect, Wentlandt said, was "put down."

Wentlandt said emergency medical personnel have identified seven people dead - four inside the temple and three outside, including the suspect.

The police officer was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is in surgery. Wentlandt said the officer, a 20-year veteran, is expected to survive.

The first 911 call to police about the shooting was received at 10:35 a.m., Wendlant said. Three hours later, he described the situation as "very fluid" with "tactical operations" still in progress.

Police were searching the temple to determine whether the gunman had an accomplice, Wendlant said. Eyewitnesses offered conflicting accounts; several said they believe there was more than one gunman.

A spokeswoman for Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, the main trauma center in the area, said doctors there are treating three victims of the shooting. Spokeswoman Carolyn Bellin said the three are all men. One is in the operating room, another is in a surgical intensive care unit, and the third is being evaluated in the emergency room.

Belliin said the hospital is prepared to receive more patients from the shooting, but does not know if more will be on the way.

There has been no number of those injured released. Among the wounded was the temple's president, Satwant Kaleka, who was shot in the back, according to his sister-in-law, Deepinder Dhaliwal, who spoke on camera to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

There are more than a dozen ambulances parked outside the temple, and police have corralled media and a handful of bystanders to clear out from the area near the temple.

Sukhwindar Nagr, of Racine, said he called his brother-in-law's phone and a priest at the temple answered and told him that his brother-in-law had been shot, along with three priests. The priest also said women and children were hiding in closets in the temple, Nagr said.

In a telephone interview Sandeep Khattra told CBS News that her grandfather was shot dead, while her mother was among the temple members who hid in the temple's kitchen.

The White House said President Obama was aware of the shooting and was being kept up to date by the FBI.

In a statement the Indian Embassy called the incident "tragic," and said they were in touch with the National Security Council in Washington. India's Consulate General in Chicago is also monitoring the developments, and an official is visiting the site to ascertain the situation.

Wis. Gov. Scott Walker issued a statement, saying, "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, as we all struggle to comprehend the evil that begets this terrible violence."

Sikh rights groups have reported a rise in bias attacks since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Washington-based Sikh Coalition has reported more than 700 incidents in the U.S. since 9/11, which advocates blame on anti-Islamic sentiment. Sikhs don't practice the same religion as Muslims, but their long beards and turbans often cause them to be mistaken for Muslims, advocates say.

Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that was founded in South Asia more than 500 years ago. It has roughly 27 million followers worldwide. Observant Sikhs do not cut their hair; male followers often cover their heads with turbans - which are considered sacred - and refrain from shaving their beards.

There are roughly 500,000 Sikhs in the U.S., according to estimates. The majority worldwide live in India.

Police at this time have not identified another gunman, but Wentlandt said the situation was fluid and a search of the ground is continuing.

According to the temple's website, the temple lies on 13 acres of land. The main brick building, about 17,500 square feet in size, includes a place of worship, a library, an education area, and a playspace for children.

The temple has up to 400 members.

Oak Creek is south of Milwaukee along Lake Michigan.

This is really terrible. Sikhism is one of the most peaceful religions on the planet.

[PlinyTheYounger]

Why?

[xstunt1ngx]

Guy probably thought he was in a Mosque for muslims.

[Sharon]

Mistaking them for Muslims, oh dear, so awful

[Wolf]

Sikh in the head.

[pbaj12]

Gun control comments in 3..2..1..

[D2D]

No gun control .. They need to bring in Chemical Castration to stop these fucking Lunatics breeding

[Phobophile]

Another example why it is of great importance that even pacifists cary full automatic rifles! You'll never know who will come after you, In the Netherlands it is very difficult to buy guns and we have mass shootings and very high death rates by firearms.. oh wait..

[icheerthebull]

Originally Posted by Phobophile

Another example why it is of great importance that even pacifists cary full automatic rifles! You'll never know who will come after you, In the Netherlands it is very difficult to buy guns and we have mass shootings and very high death rates by firearms.. oh wait..

part of the 5 k's in the sikh religion is the knife they must keep on them at all times to defend themselfs.

[pbaj12]

Originally Posted by Phobophile

Another example why it is of great importance that even pacifists cary full automatic rifles! You'll never know who will come after you, In the Netherlands it is very difficult to buy guns and we have mass shootings and very high death rates by firearms.. oh wait..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...hopping-centre