Wisconsin Shooting: Several People Killed After Shots Fired At Sikh Temple

 4:42 PM – Today
Massachusetts Sikhs Worry About Religious Freedom

From Milford Patch:

    Malkit Singh Gill, president of the New England Sikh Study Circle in Milford, said it’s unfortunate that religion is the cause for persecution in the land of the free.

    “I think this is very tragic,” Gill said. “The country was founded on the belief that there should be no religious persecution.”

    Gill said that there are more than 500,000 Sikhs in this country, and their temples are open to anyone, however he is unsure what comes after this.

    “I need to be thinking about what the next step is for the temple. We are hard working peace loving people and it’s sad that one person is trying to put fear in to us,” Gill said.

Read the whole thing here.
4:34 PM – Today
Congregant Reacts To Shooting

A Sikh congregant reacted with confusion and resolve to a local television station following the shooting.

He told TODAY TMJ4 that he was not angry. "We're just confused. Was this a random act? Was this because of the way we look?"

"In our Holy Book, it says, 'Don't hate anybody. God is without hate or fear.' We don't hate anybody."

He said he didn't think anyone in the congregation was afraid to go back and that he would.

-- Luke Johnson
4:30 PM – Today
Sikh Coalition Responds To Shooting

The Sikh Coalition, a nonprofit group defending civil rights for Sikhs created in the aftermath of the violence against members of the religion following the 9/11 attacks, responded to the shooting earlier Sunday on its Facebook page:

    The Sikh Coalition's prayers and thoughts go out to the victim's of today's shooting at the Oak Creek Gurdwara in Wisconsin. We are monitoring the situation and have been in touch with federal authorities and local sangat members regarding the situation.

--Luke Johnson
4:23 PM – Today
Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards

Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards confirmed that seven people were killed and three people were injured in a shooting at a Sikh temple sunday morning.

He said the initial 9/11 call came in around 10:30 a.m., and police responded, finding one person injured. An officer was attending to the injured person when he was ambushed and shot multiple times by the suspect. A second officer then arrived, was shot at by the suspect, and then returned fire, killing him, said Edwards.

"It's taken most of the day to clear that area, the church itself and the surrounding area, because of the conflicting reports we got about how many people were involved," he said.

The FBI will be handling the criminal investigation and it will be treated as a domestic terrorist incident.

Another press conference will be held Monday morning at 10 a.m. central time.

Edwards said the injured officer still has family that needs to be notified. He offered no information on the suspect.

Everyone has been evacuated from the temple.
4:05 PM – Today
Shooter Reportedly Carrying One Gun
NBCNews    @ NBCNews : Law enforcement official tells @PeteWilliamsNBC that Sikh temple shooter was dressed in tactical gear, armed with single handgun

3:59 PM – Today
Update From Froederdt Hospital

From the AP:

    A Milwaukee hospital is treating the police officer shot at a Sikh temple south of the city and two other victims. All are in critical condition.

    Froederdt Hospital Chief Medical Office Lee Biblo says the three victims of the shooting in suburban Oak Creek are all adult men. The hospital did not immediately identify the police officer or the other two victims.

    Hospital spokeswoman Carolyn Bellin says one of the victims had gunshot wounds to the face and extremities, and another had wounds to his abdomen. She did not know which was the police officer, or the nature of the third victim's wounds.

    Police said earlier the officer is expected to survive.

    Bellin says the hospital is not expecting any more shooting victims.

3:57 PM – Today
Red Truck In The Parking Lot

Authorities have been searching a red truck in the parking lot, according to the livestream from NBC.
3:38 PM – Today
Obama Releases Statement

President Obama released a statement in response to the shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin on Sunday. The statement, in full:

    Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the shooting that tragically took so many lives in Wisconsin. 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.