Sikh Shooting Suspect IDed as Army Vet

Police confirmed Monday the suspect is 40-year-old Wade Michael Page

Officials on Monday identified the gunman suspected of killing six people and critically wounding three others inside a Sikh temple in Wisconsin as 40-year-old Wade Michael Page.

Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards confirmed during a Monday news conference Page was an Army veteran who served from 1992 through 1998. Edwards said Page was given a general discharge and was ineligible for re-enlistment.

"He was the only shooter that was involved at the temple," Edwards said.

The heavily tattooed Page was shot and killed by police after allegedly opening fire on worshipers Sunday morning at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.

The dead included five men and one woman: Sita Singh, 41; Ranjit Singh, 49; Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65; Prakash Singh, 39; Paramjit Kaur, 41; and Suveg Singh, 84.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Teresa Carlson said they are looking at ties to white supremacy groups. The FBI did not have an active investigation of Page before the incident, Carlson said, and was not aware of any prior threat to the temple.

The FBI had been looking for another man they considered a person of interest. That man was later identified and interviewed and ruled out as being connected to the rampage. Edwards said the unidentified man showed up at the scene after the shootings, and someone told an officer he looked suspicious. The man left the scene before anyone could talk to him, Edwards said.

Army officials said Page was first stationed at Fort Sill then was later stationed in Fort Bliss and Fort Bragg. Page had no criminal record in the military and no record of combat deployments, officials told NBC News.

He had an arrest record for minor traffic offenses, officials said.

Authorities told NBC News that Page purchased legally the 9mm semi-automatic handgun he allegedly used in the rampage near his home within the past 10 days.

A gunman entered the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis., around 10:30 a.m. Sunday and opened fire, police said. FBI officials said the president of the temple, Satwant Kaleka, tried grabbing the suspect to stop the gunfire and was fatally struck twice in the side.

One of the first police officers on the scene was shot multiple times, Edwards said. Another officer on the scene fatally shot Wade.

The wounded officer was one of three men taken in critical condition to Froedtert Hospital and underwent surgery, said Edwards. He is expected to fully recover.

Authorities went to the suspect's home in nearby Cuduhy, Wis., and evacuated several blocks of nearby homes while they searched for about nine hours looking for clues.

The search ended around 1 a.m. Monday.

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