Officials identify Sikh temple shooter as ex-American military man

The tragic shooting at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee is being blamed on an ex-American military man, who was reduced in rank before his discharge.

Wade Michael Page, 40, is reported to be behind the shooting at the Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee that killed six people and wounded three others.

Officials say the gunman was an army veteran and a civil rights group identified him as a “frustrated neo-Nazi” who led a white supremacist band.

The shooter later died in an exchange of gunfire with police. During that exchange an officer was left in critical condition with numerous gunshot wounds.

The other two injured parties were also in serious condition, with authorities saying the injured police officer was likely to survive.

Police say they received the first call about the shooting from inside the temple, and the first officer on the scene arrived and noticed a victim in the parking lot.

“It was at that point that he was met by the suspect, who basically ambushed him around his vehicle, the officer was shot eight to nine times at very close range, said one official.

We have also learned more about the victims of the shooting. Of those killed, five are men and one was a woman.

The oldest victim was 84 and the youngest was 39.

A U.S. official, who declined to be named publicly, confirmed to American media that Page had been discharged from the military in 1998.

“He was in the military from 1992 to 1998, he had a general discharge, and he was ineligible for reenlistment,” said one official.

While many details are still fuzzy, witnesses say the man walked into the temple where people were praying and meditating and opened fire without saying a word.

The FBI will lead the remainder of the investigation, according to Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards.

“We’re treating this as a domestic-terrorist like incident, and therefore the FBI has the resources needed to help investigate that,” Edwards said.

The FBI couldn’t confirm that was the case, however.

“The FBI is working closely with the Oak Creek Police Department and other local and federal agencies to investigate today’s shooting incident,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Teresa Carlson.

“While the FBI is investigating whether this matter might be an act of domestic terrorism, no motive has been determined at this time.”

Witnesses have reported to the Associated Press that he was a heavy-set white man with a bald head.

There has also been much speculation that he was associated with white supremacist groups, although authorities would only confirm that the investigation is ongoing.

Federal agents now say the shooter was armed with a nine-millimetre, semi-automatic handgun.