Aug 6, 2012

Six people are dead after a gunman fired at worshippers preparing for religious service inside a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin on Aug. 5. The victims, one woman and five men, ranged from 39 to 84. The gunman, who was shot by police, has been identified as Wade Michael Page, 40, a veteran who was in the military from 1992 to 1998 and was ineligible for reenlistment. According to Reuters, U.S. military sources said “Page had been discharged from the Army in 1998 for ‘patterns of misconduct’ and had been cited for being drunk on duty.” FBI officials have launched a domestic terrorism probe, investigating possible leads that Page was linked to white supremacist groups. The shooting has also sparked vigils as well as anti-American demonstrations overseas.

: AUGUST 6: Alleged gunman Wade Michael Page is seen in this undated handout from the FBI, released at the Oak Creek Police Department on August 6, 2012. (FBI Handout/Reuters)

: Wade Michael Page, 40, is seen in this undated picture from a myspace.com web page for the musical group “End Apathy”. Page has been identified by law enforcement officials as the gunman who shot dead six people and seriously wounded three, including a police officer, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on Sunday as worshippers prepared for religious services. A police officer shot Page dead. (FBI/Handout/Reuters)

: OAK CREEK – AUGUST 6: Members of the community hold up the mug shot handed out by the FBI of the suspected shooter Wade Michael Page after a press conference on the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where yesterday a gunman fired upon people at service August, 6, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK – AUGUST 6: FBI specIal agent in charge, Teresa Carlson holds a photograph of a subject that the FBI wants to interview and is asking for any information as she speaks at a press conference on the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where yesterday a gunman fired upon people at service August, 6, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK – AUGUST 6: FBI specIal agent in charge, Teresa Carlson holds a photograph of a subject that the FBI wants to interview and is asking for any information as she speaks at a press conference on the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where yesterday a gunman fired upon people at service August, 6, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, MI – AUGUST 6: Mourners cry during a news conference in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, August 6, 2012. The gunman who killed six people at a Sikh temple in southern Wisconsin was a former U.S. serviceman, a law enforcement official said on Monday, and a monitor of extremists said the shooter had links to racist groups. (John Gress/Reuters)

: OAK CREEK, MI – AUGUST 6: Oak Creek Police chief John Edwards speaks at a press conference on the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where yesterday a gunman fired upon people at service August, 6, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, MI – AUGUST 6: Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards (R) along with a member of the Sikh Church names victims of the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where yesterday a gunman fired upon people at service, at a press conference, August, 6, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, MI – AUGUST 6: Members of the Sikh community attend a press conference on the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where yesterday a gunman fired upon people at service August, 6, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: CUDAHY, WI – AUGUST 06: News crews report from outside the home of Wade Michael Page August 6, 2012 Cudahy, Wisconsin. Page is reported to have opened fire at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin killing six people before being killed by police during a shootout. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

: AUGUST 6: Siblings (L to R) Harinder Kaur Rakhra, Amarjit Singh Kaleka, and Jaswinder Kaur pose with family photographs of their brother Satwant Singh Kaleka, president of the gurdwara (temple) in the U.S. who was killed when a gunman shot worshippers in the temple, in Patiala on August 6, 2012. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

: AUGUST 6: Indian Sikh devotees pay their respects at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on August 6, 2012. Indian Sikhs, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, voiced shock and anger August 6 at the killing of worshippers at a Sikh temple in the US, with some suggesting American Muslims may have been the intended target. (Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images)

: AUGUST 6: Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma (3rd R) leads followers as they offer prayers to Sikhs killed at a temple in the U.S., at the Golden temple in Amritsar on August 6, 2012. (Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images)

: AUGUST 6: Activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal shout anti-US slogans during a protest near the U.S. embassy in New Delhi on August 6, 2012, after a gunman in the U.S. shot worshipers at a suburban Sikh temple in Wisconsin. (Hussain Sajjad/AFP/Getty Images)

: AUGUST 6: Activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal hold placards as they pray during a protest near the US embassy in New Delhi on August 6, 2012, after a gunman in the US shot worshippers at a suburban Sikh temple in Wisconsin. (Hussain Sajjad/AFP/Getty Images)

: AUGUST 6: Activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal protest near the US embassy in New Delhi on August 6, 2012, after a gunman in the U.S. shot worshippers at a suburban Sikh temple in Wisconsin. (Hussain Sajjad/AFP/Getty Images)

: AUGUST 6: Activists of the National Akali Dal burn the U.S. flag as they shout anti-US slogans during a protest in New Delhi on August 6, 2012, after a gunman in the U.S. shot worshippers at a suburban Sikh temple in Wisconsin. (Hussain Sajjad/AFP/Getty Images)

: NEW DELHI – AUGUST 6: Activists of the National Akali Dal shout anti-US slogans during a protest in New Delhi on August 6, 2012, after a gunman in the US shot worshippers at a suburban Sikh temple in Wisconsin. (Hussain Sajjad/AFP/Getty Images)

: JAMMU – AUGUST 6: Indian Sikhs shout anti-US slogans in front of burning tyres in Jammu on August 6, 2012, after a gunman in the U.S. shot worshippers at a suburban Sikh temple in Wisconsin. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh voiced shock August 6 at the killing of worshippers at a Sikh temple in the US, while Sikh leaders suggested American Muslims may have been the intended target. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 6: Mourners, including Amardeep Kaleka (C) whose father, temple president Satwant Kaleka, was killed, cry outside the scene of a mass shooting in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, August 6, 2012. The gunman who killed six people at a Sikh temple in southern Wisconsin was a former U.S. serviceman, a law enforcement official said on Monday, and a monitor of extremists said the shooter had links to racist groups. (John Gress/Reuters)

: AUGUST 5: People gather at a candle light vigil at Cathedral Square in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin August 5, 2012 for those killed at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. (Tom Lynn/Reuters)

: POAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: People light candles during a vigil at Cathedral Square to honor victims of Oak Creek in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin August 5, 2012. (Allen Fredrickson/Reuters)

: AUGUST 5: People hold a large sign while attending a candle light vigil at Cathedral Square in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin August 5, 2012. A shooting during Sunday services at the Sikh temple in a nearby Oak Creek left at least seven people dead, including a gunman, and at least three critically wounded, police and hospital officials said. (Tom Lynn/Reuters)

: AUGUST 5: Charnjit Singh, 49, a priest at the Gurdwara Sahib Hayward in Hayward, Calif., waits for news of his four relatives who were victims of a mass shooting inside a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Sunday, August 5, 2012. Seven people were killed in the rampage, including the shooter, according to police. (D. Ross Cameron/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: A distraught women is comforted outside of the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin August 5, 2012. A shooting during Sunday services at the temple left at least seven people dead, including a gunman, and at least three critically wounded, police and hospital officials said. (Tom Lynn/Reuters)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: A woman prays near a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin August 5, 2012 following a mass shooting inside and outside the temple. A shooting during Sunday services at a Sikh temple left at least seven people dead, including a gunman, and at least three critically wounded, police and hospital officials said. (Allen Fredrickson/Reuters)

: AUGUST 5: Members of the police, FBI, Fire Department and Bomb Squad set up near the home of the alleged shooter of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. (Tasos Katopdois/AFP/Getty Images)

: CUDAHY, WI – AUGUST 05: Police secure a neighborhood where the gunman lived who is suspected of opening fire at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin August, 5, 2012 Cudahy, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: Officials gather near the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek in Wisconsin August 5, 2012 following a mass shooting inside and outside the Sikh Temple. A shooting during Sunday services at a Sikh temple left at least seven people dead, including a gunman, and at least three critically wounded, police and hospital officials said. (Allen Fredrickson/Reuters)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: A woman looks on near the scene of a shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Sunday, August 5, 2012. (Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

: A Sikh man holds his daughter near the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where six people were killed when a gunman fired during a service on August, 5, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Tasos Katopdois/AFP/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK – AUGUST 5: People embrace across the street after a shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Sunday, August 5, 2012. (Chris Wilson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 05: People wait for word on family and friends in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was later shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: People look on in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was later shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK – AUGUST 5: Various police personnel walk away from the site just outside of where swat teams had surrounded the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where a gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb. The shooter who was later shot dead by a police officer. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 05: A woman wipes away a tear in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 05: Police work outside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images

: OAK CREEK – AUGUST 6: People console each other at the command center near the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where yesterday a gunman fired upon people at service August, 6, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images) 149967350

: OAK CREEK – AUGUST 5: Bystanders looks on as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed a mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: A tactical officer runs to position as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was later shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: People walk near the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where a gunman fired upon people at a service on August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was later shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb. (Tasos Katopdois/AFP/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: Police SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

: OAK CREEK, WI – AUGUST 5: Police SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. (Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

Related Reading
Sikh temple gunman was ex-soldier linked to racist group
Brendan O’Brien and James B. Kelleher
Reuters
12:36 p.m. EDT, August 6, 2012

OAK CREEK, Wisconsin (Reuters) – Police identified the gunman who killed six people at a Wisconsin Sikh temple as a 40-year-old U.S. Army veteran, and a monitor of extremists said he was a member of a racist skinhead band.

Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards told a news conference on Monday that the gunman, who was shot dead by police at the scene on Sunday, was named Wade Michael Page, a former U.S. soldier who served from 1992 to 1998.

The gunman shot dead six people and seriously wounded three, including a police officer, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin as worshippers prepared for religious services.

The victims were five men and one woman, aged between 39 and 84.

Authorities said they were treating the attack as an act of domestic terrorism. American Sikhs said they have often been singled out for harassment, and occasionally violent assault, since the September 11, 2001, attacks because they are mistaken as Muslims due to their colorful turbans and beards.

U.S. military sources said Page had been discharged from the Army in 1998 for “patterns of misconduct” and had been cited for being drunk on duty.

Page had served in the military for six years but was never posted overseas. He was a psychological operations specialist and missile repairman who was last stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the sources said.

In June 1998 he was disciplined for being drunk on duty and had his rank reduced to specialist from sergeant. He was not eligible to re-enlist.

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Gunman kills six at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin; officials identify suspect as … – Baltimore Sun
Aug 06, 2012 @ 13:59:41

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Gunman kills six at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin; officials identify suspect as Wade Michael Page

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