Six lost lives, gunman killed, three injured in Sikh Temple shooting

OAK CREEK -- Law enforcement officials held a news conference Monday morning, August 6th in Oak Creek -- briefing the media following Sunday's Sikh Temple shooting that killed six members and injured three others. The gunman, identified by officials as 40-year-old Wade Michael Page was fatally shot by Oak Creek police at the scene. FBI Agent Teresa Carlson says this is being investigated as a possible act of domestic terrorism.

Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards gave an account of what happened Sunday morning at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.

Edwards said the initial call about the shooting came in around 10 :25 a.m. 51-year-old, 20-year veteran Oak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy was first to arrive on the scene.

Oak Creek Police Department Lt. Brian Murphy

Chief Edwards says Lt. Murphy first came across a victim in the parking lot, and was "ambushed" by Page. Lt. Murphy was shot eight to nine times in the parking lot. The chief didn't detail the location of every shot, but did say Lt. Murphy was shot in the neck.

Page encountered officers outside the temple, and was given orders by police. After Page refused to follow those orders he was shot and killed by an Oak Creek police officer using a squad rifle.

As additional officers arrived at the scene, they located an injured Lt. Murphy. Chief Edwards says Murphy tried to get his fellow officers to help the victims inside the church first -- waving off help.

Oak Creek police upgraded the shooting to a tactical situation once the suspect was no longer considered a threat.The FBI took over once Oak Creek police secured the scene, including a grid search and checking with neighbors during door-to-door knock-and-talks. Chief Edwards says police from Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha counties responded to the shooting -- 27 agencies in total.

It took officials most of the afternoon and into the early evening to clear and secure the temple and surrounding area.

Chief Edwards says officials believe Page was the only shooter in this incident. ATF Agent Bernard Zapor says the 9mm pistol Page used was purchased legally.

The nearest Sikh temple is in the City of Brookfield, and police do have that temple secured.

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