Sikh Temple Shooting - Wisconsin

[Palehorse]

Oak Creek, Wisconsin (CNN) -- The FBI will investigate Sunday's rampage at a Sikh temple in a Milwaukee suburb as a "domestic terrorist-type incident" that left at least six people and the gunman dead, the town's police chief said.
Another three people were wounded, including the first officer to respond to the scene, Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards said. A second officer returned fire, killing the suspect, according to the chief.
All three of the wounded were in critical condition at Milwaukee's Froedtert Hospital, spokeswoman Carolyn Bellin told CNN. The congregation's president was among the wounded, his nephew said.
And another man told the CNN affiliate WTMJ, "Nobody's angry here. We're just confused. Was this a random act? Was this directed at us because of the way we look?"
Authorities have not identified the gunman by name, though Thomas Ahern, a spokesman with the ATF's Chicago division, described him as a white male roughly 40 years of age.
Like other officials, Ahern said authorities have not determined a motive, adding "we are a long way away from that right now." Teresa Carlson, special agent in charge at the FBI's Milwaukee division, said late Sunday that investigators are still assessing whether this "might be an act of domestic terrorism, no motive has been determined at this time."
The Sikh religion originated in northern India around 1500 and has about 25 million followers, 700,000 of them in the United States, according to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Because of their customary beards and turbans, Sikh men are often confused for Hindus or Muslims -- and have been the targets of hate crimes since the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, said Surinder Singh, a spokesman for the Guru Nanak Mission Society of Atlanta.
"We were the victims of mistaken identity, and a few Sikhs were gunned down during that time," Singh said. A Sikh man was killed in Phoenix in apparent retaliation for the attacks that had been carried out by the Islamic terrorist group al Qaeda, and Singh said the entire Sikh community "will be kind of scared" following Sunday's killings.
The attack occurred about 10:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET), when temple members were reading scriptures and cooking food in preparation for the main Sunday service and community lunch, said Kanwardeep Singh Kaleka, a member of the congregation and the nephew of its president.
Kaleka was not at the temple at the time of the shooting, but helped police interview witnesses in the aftermath. He said members described the attacker as a bald, white man, dressed in a white T-shirt and black pants and with a 9/11 tattoo on one arm -- which "implies to me that there's some level of hate crime there."
A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation confirmed the shooter was wearing a white T-shirt and did not have a bulletproof vest.
Kaleka said the gunman started shooting in the parking lot, "then entered into the temple and proceeded to open fire."
"It seems the few casualties that have been divulged to me have been the equivalent of priests, the holy leaders of our people," he said. "My uncle is one of the administrators of the temple. It's mainly those individuals who have been targeted or shot. Maybe it's because the ladies were fortunate enough to dodge it out, but so far most of the people I've heard have been shot and killed were all turbaned males."
Police searched the suspect's home, "a short distance" from the temple, on Sunday evening, according to a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the investigation. A single semi-automatic pistol believed to have been used by the gunman was found at the scene, along with the wounded officer's weapon, the source said.
Initial reports were that there may have been multiple attackers, but police found no indication of another gunman, said Bradley Wentlandt, the police chief in nearby Greenfield.
The Oak Creek temple, or gurdwara, opened in 2007 and has a congregation of more than 350. Family members gathered outside told WTMJ that survivors were being taken to a nearby bowling alley so they could be interviewed by police.
"Our dear ones and near ones are injured and hurt, and we are trying to find out what happened," said Darshan Dhaliwal, a congregation leader.
Congregation president Satwant Kaleka was shot and wounded when he attempted to tackle the gunman, his son, Amardeep Kaleka told WTMJ. His mother -- who hid in a closet during the violence -- was too distraught to talk, he said.
State Rep. Josh Zepnick said many members of the Milwaukee area's Sikh community are among his constituents and described himself as being "torn to shreds" by the attack.
"It's a very peace-loving community that has successfully integrated and assimilated into the metropolitan Milwaukee area," Zepnick told WTMJ.
And state Rep. Mark Honadel, whose district includes the temple, called the attack "craziness."
"Unfortunately, when this type of stuff hits your area, you say to yourself, 'Why?' But in today's society, I don't think there's any place that's free from idiots," Honadel said.
The American branch of the World Sikh Council, meanwhile, said Sunday was "a troubling day, not only for Sikh-Americans, but also for all Americans."
"We urge all to pray for the victims, their families and friends, and the surrounding community," the group said. "We also express our gratitude towards the law enforcement authorities for their prompt and effective response to the situation as it unfolded."
State and national political leaders also offered statements of condolence after the killings, which came two weeks after a massacre at a Colorado movie theater that left 12 dead and dozens more wounded.
"Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, as we all struggle to comprehend the evil that begets this terrible violence," Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement issued by his office. "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."
In a statement from the White House, President Barack Obama said the United States had been "enriched" by Sikhs, "who are a part of our broader American family."
"My administration will provide whatever support is necessary to the officials who are responding to this tragic shooting and moving forward with an investigation," Obama said.
And from Boston, Obama's presumptive Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, called the slayings "a senseless act of violence and a tragedy that should never befall any house of worship." He said the hearts of he and his wife, Ann, "are with the victims, their families, and the entire Oak Creek Sikh community."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/05/us/wisconsin-temple-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Here we go again. . .

Those of you who have posted with me here for awhile will remember when I warned of people going whack nuts due to the weather extremes combined with the economic downturn, and I submit that this along with the previous two mass shooting here recently are evidence of just that.

[The Troll]

  The way the media has be talking about these crazy nut killing people 24 hours a day.  No wonder that it is bringing out all of the  copy cats.  Hell, if those other guys can do it, so can I.

  Just let them keep talking and the killing will continue.  Is there any way to shut up the media of this type of crime?  They are just making it worse.  The nuts don't care if their are breaking the law or not, even to the point of getting themselves killed.    New gun law won't stop this kind of killing, it will only take the guns of the law abiding.   

[Palehorse]

The perp was a white supremacist and former Army. . . 

[The Troll]

The perp was a white supremacist and former Army. . . 

  Just like the Army guy blew up the building in Kansas.      Since the guy was Army I am surprised he didn't get more people.   

[Henry Hawk]

I don't think the weather or the econmy had anything to do with this NUTJOB!  He was a evil man, who hated people not like himself.
I salute the police officer who stepped up and performed his duties who shot and killed this POS.  Though the officer was in critical condition, he is expected to survive.  My heart goes out to the members of that church, who did nothing at all to deserve such a tragedy.

[Exterminator]

He was a evil man, who hated people not like himself.

Sort of like the people who set record sales at Chik-fil-a last week.

[Henry Hawk]

Sort of like the people who set record sales at Chik-fil-a last week.

It is THIS kind of logic (and hatred) that will be the reason why the liberal movement will take a serious hit this winter...it is that segmetn of people who lack the ability to truly understand the hard working citizens of this country and those who made this country great.

[Exterminator]

Evil people who hate people not like themselves exactly describes the scene at Chik-fil-a last week.

And for the record, you do not represent the hard working people of this country or the people who made it great; not even close.

[Exterminator]

"Two neighbors of Page identified him in photos that showed him playing in the far-right punk band 'End Apathy'...

Does it say, "far left punk band"?  Nope!

[Henry Hawk]

Evil people who hate people not like themselves exactly describes the scene at Chik-fil-a last week.

And for the record, you do not represent the hard working people of this country or the people who made it great; not even close.

Yeah, I think I am spot on, a representive of the hard working American....SPOT ON! 

It is very obvious, you have no clue, by your responses full of hatred and arrogance....of what real, hard working Americans are or what they stand for.

btw, what makes you think those people who supported Chik-fil-a are hateful?  There was no acts of violence or ONE incident of hate.  It is these people who merely are tired of folks like yourself, who believe it is wrong for anyone of faith to actually say so in public....The owner did nothing, what-so-ever wrong.  He merely said in an interview, that he supports traditional marriage, just as Obama ONCE said he did.  Then assholes like Rahm Emanual come out bashing Chic-fil-a....and people are sick of that kind of THUGGERY by our politicians.  It is a free enterprise, and those who don't want to support Chik, can do so by not eating there....but, we don't need ANY politician claiming they are a bad company......that has become the norm by the liberals.

[Exterminator]

You seem to stand for only posting to this forum on your employer's dime...I rarely if ever see you post here aouside of normal working hours.  Is that "hard working"?

So when you find out you're wrong because people would rather chance another four years of what they know than gamble on a guy who is afraid to show his tax returns and whose "tax plan" will benefit the wealthy on the backs of the real working people, will you admit that you are not one of those people and have no idea who they are or for what they stand?

[Henry Hawk]

"Two neighbors of Page identified him in photos that showed him playing in the far-right punk band 'End Apathy'...

Does it say, "far left punk band"?  Nope!

Okay Harry Reid....if the neighbors SAID they were a far-right punk band then they must be then.....and even if they are, big freaking deal........this is NOT a politically motivated crime.......it is just another nutjob crime.

[Henry Hawk]

You seem to stand for only posting to this forum on your employer's dime...I rarely if ever see you post here aouside of normal working hours.  Is that "hard working"?

So when you find out you're wrong because people would rather chance another four years of what they know than gamble on a guy who is afraid to show his tax returns and whose "tax plan" will benefit the wealthy on the backs of the real working people, will you admit that you are not one of those people and have no idea who they are or for what they stand?

Let's continue this conversation in November, shall we?

[Exterminator]

Let's continue this conversation in November, shall we?

Why?  I'll give you that you might speak to the majority of the sentiment in Madison County but Madison County is not a hair on this country's ass and is anything but indicative of the diversity and intelligence of it's citizens.

[Henry Hawk]

Why? 

Because that is when we will get a new POTUS.