Fox News reports that the gunman suspected of killing six people at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., was Wade Michael Page, a 40-year-old Army veteran formerly stationed at Fort Bragg.
CBS confirms the news.
CBS News confirms WI shooter identity: Wade Michael Page, age 40. He was US Army veteran. No longer active duty.
— Mosheh Oinounou (@Mosheh) August 6, 2012
From @CBSNews: gunman suspect at Sikh temple in Wisconsin identified as: Wade Michael Page, age 40. Former military, not active.
— Daphne Gaghagen (@DaphneLAdato) August 6, 2012
There are reports circulating that Page was an active duty serviceman.
https://twitter.com/JeremyTruitt/status/232438194707243008
BREAKING: Sikh Temple Shooting Suspect ID'd as Wade Michael Page, 40, an active Army serviceman out of Fort Bragg, Calif.
— (((Jai)))#NeverTrump (@JaiSimon) August 6, 2012
Those reports do not appear to be accurate. More details are expected to emerge at a press conference this morning.
Twitchy will monitor the story and update with breaking developments.
Update:
CNN’s Marlena Baldacci reports that the weapon used in the massacre was legal.
Multiple law enforcement officials tell #CNN alleged #templeshooting suspect was Wade Michael Page, age 40. Page legally owned gun used.
— Marlena Baldacci (@MarlenaTV) August 6, 2012
More on the alleged shooter’s military career:
Sources tell @cbsnews Wade Michael Page was reduced in rank from sgt to specialist in 1998 and received a general discharge.
— Mosheh Oinounou (@Mosheh) August 6, 2012
NPR's Bowman on WI suspect: Born 11/11/71 . Active duty Army 1992-98 as Hawk Missile repairman, then "psychological operations specialist."
— Steve Inskeep (@NPRinskeep) August 6, 2012
No motive has been confirmed at this time.
Unspecified evidence suggests race or ethnicity may have played a role, but no confirmed links to extremist groups http://t.co/qAfyTUCf
— Sepia Mutiny (@sepiamutiny) August 6, 2012
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But lack of an established motive won’t stop the inevitable spread of Blame Righty Syndrome today.
Update:
Page was reportedly discharged from the Army for “patterns of misconduct,” including drinking while on duty.
WI shooter was discharged from military in 1998 for "patterns of misconduct," source tells @mikemountcnn
— CNN NationalSecurity (@NatSecCNN) August 6, 2012
REU: SUSPECTED WISCONSIN TEMPLE SHOOTER WAS DISCHARGED FROM ARMY IN 1998 FOR 'PATTERNS OF MISCONDUCT,' CITED FOR BEING DRUNK ON DUTY
— Michael van Poppel (@mpoppel) August 6, 2012
Update:
The Southern Poverty Law Center alleges that Page was a member of a White supremacist band called End Apathy. Take this one with a grain of salt until it’s confirmed that this is the same Wade Page.
Alleged Sikh Temple Shooter Former Member of Skinhead Band http://t.co/FEaKOAJn
— Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) August 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/jtes/status/232470850845171713
And … here we go with the Blame Righty Syndrome.
https://twitter.com/OxyConservative/status/232473591936069632
Naturally, if he’s a neo-Nazi he’s also a right-winger. Probably a Tea Party guy too, right?
–@nikkihaley "Now, #liveslost In your own Temple of Sikh" #teaparty @Gop Rhetoric created another RW Domestic Terrorist.. #StopGopTeaparty
— TES (@southerntalker) August 6, 2012
Update:
The Milwaukee Fox affiliate has another photo.
More details on the shooting, investigation and aftermath from the 11 a.m. EDT press conference with Oak Creek officials including Mayor Steve Scaffidi & Police Chief John Edwards:
Community-wide vigil just announced by @ocmayorsteve tomorrow night at 8:30pm.
— SUSAN KIM (@SusanKim4) August 6, 2012
27 agencies responded to the #templeshooting situation.
— Katie Rosenberg (@katierosenberg) August 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/HenryRosoff/status/232493931886174210
More than 22 units and 60 fire personnel responded #templeshooting #Newsline9
— Bonnie Shelton (@BonnieMShelton) August 6, 2012
PD treated situation as "Active Shooter" Used squad rifles. #Templeshooting
— Jen Audetat (@jenayres) August 6, 2012
Oak Creek PD Chief John Edwards giving a timeline. Claims injured OCPD officer was shot 8-9 times at close range. #TempleShooting
— Vince Vitrano (@vincevitrano) August 6, 2012
Officer who was shot waived other officers off, telling them to go into the temple to help instead. #templeshooting
— Katie Rosenberg (@katierosenberg) August 6, 2012
Officials confirm there was just a single shooter.
https://twitter.com/HenryRosoff/status/232495204274409473
Oak Creek chief says it took so long to secure the area because they secured not only the temple but also 3 miles around the scene.
— Katie Rosenberg (@katierosenberg) August 6, 2012
Lieutenant Brian Murphy is the heroic officer who was shot by the gunman.
https://twitter.com/HenryRosoff/status/232495756773310464
Edwards: Lt. Murphy was helping one of the victims that died when he was ambushed.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/Jyoti_PK/status/232496100211314689
Victims names have been released.
What a moment. Oak Creek police has Sikh community member read off the names of those killed. Dramatic. #TempleShooting
— Nick Penzenstadler (@npenzenstadler) August 6, 2012
Ages, genders of #templeshooting victims: 41, male. 49, male. 62, male. 39, male. 41, female. 84, male.
— Jessie Opoien (@jessieopie) August 6, 2012
Victims killed in #templeshooting ranged in age from 39-84 years old. All men, except for 41 yr old female. #Templeshooting
— SUSAN KIM (@SusanKim4) August 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/AakankshaT/status/232496405225287682
Officials confirmed news reports that the shooting suspect is Wade Michael Page who was killed on-scene yesterday.
https://twitter.com/HenryRosoff/status/232496434321186816
Oak Creek Police: Police confirm suspect is Wade M. Page. They confirm he was in military from 1992-1998 #TempleShooting
— Jagrti (@jagrtiworldwide) August 6, 2012
The press conference is being handled with compassion and professionalism.
Oak Creek Police Chief Edwards shows amazing poise & sensitivity in handling #templeshooting news conference. These events tough on cops.
— Kevin Morison (@KevinMorison) August 6, 2012
US State Attorney: Oak Creek is now secure. We are doing everything in powers and beyond to ensure that remains the case. #TempleShooting
— Jagrti (@jagrtiworldwide) August 6, 2012
U.S. Attorney James Santelle also spoke to the press.
Santelle: "It is fair to say that the tremendous work still ongoing … is a direct result of very cooperative, focused partnership."
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
Santelle: "Oak Creek is secure." No reason to believe there will be repetition of event.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
Santelle reminded the press of an attack on a member of the Sikh faith after 9/11 who was mistaken for a Muslim.
US State Attorney: Commenting on Sikh Faith, this is not the first incident of hate towards Sikh community. #TempleShooting
— Jagrti (@jagrtiworldwide) August 6, 2012
Santelle: "The Muslim faith is not the Sikh faith."
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
Reminder: authorities have not indicated that the shooter confused Sikhs with Muslims (despite what Geraldo Rivera believes).
Teresa Carlson of the FBI mentioned a second “person of interest” the FBI would like to interview.
Carlson: No reason to believe there is anyone else associated with the shooting. She showed a photograph of a person of interest.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
FBI Special Agent: To release image of person of interest. Any tips call 1-800-call-fbi #TempleShooting
— Jagrti (@jagrtiworldwide) August 6, 2012
Carlson stressed that he is not a suspect, just a person of interest.
Carlson holds up a picture of a person of interest. Here's a grainy screen grab of the picture: http://t.co/OTHcs60y #templeshooting
— Katie Rosenberg (@katierosenberg) August 6, 2012
FBI trying to ID this person of interest. #templeshooting pic.twitter.com/oYB0AfbK
— Colin Benedict (@cbenedict) August 6, 2012
Motive is “still being assessed.”
FBI Special Agent: This remains an active investigation, suspected act of terrorism, motive still being investigated #TempleShooting
— Jagrti (@jagrtiworldwide) August 6, 2012
Edwards: "To give you motive would be premature." Also said he cannot give information as to where location of victims were found.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
Authorities confirm that the 9mm handgun with multiple magazines of ammunition was used in the shooting. It was purchased legally.
The firearm was purchased legally. #templeshooting
— Katie Rosenberg (@katierosenberg) August 6, 2012
No other information about the weapon and where it was purchased is being released at this time.
There was no active investigation into the shooter prior to Sunday.
Santelle; No pending investigations against Wade Michael Page.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
Carlson: Page had contact with law enforcement in past but would not discuss his record.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
Investigators are looking into any possible white supremacist connection.
Police confirm white supremacist tie of #templeshooting gunman. US can no longer ignore domestic terror threat. @thenation @edshow @WeGotEd
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) August 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/HenryRosoff/status/232500803598942208
Press Conf: FBI Defines Domestic Terrorism as "use of force of violece for social or political gain" #TempleShooting #Sikh
— Jagrti (@jagrtiworldwide) August 6, 2012
The temple could be available to the Sikh community by Thursday.
Carlson: Temple might be available Thursday. Sikh member said members will be at Brookfield temple 7-8 p.m. tonight. All are welcomed.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
There is a fund for victims.
Fund for victims of #templeshooting: Victims Memorial Fund c/o Sikh Temple, 7512 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek, WI 53154.
— Jagrti (@jagrtiworldwide) August 6, 2012
The 911 call will be released at a later date.
Edwards: "From what I could tell, within 3-4 minutes (after 911 call), we were on scene." Calls will be released when investigation is done.
— Oak Creek Patch (@OakCreekPatch) August 6, 2012
There may be surveillance video to aid in the investigation.
Officers believe there is surveillance video of the #templeshooting suspect. They haven't processed it yet.
— Katie Rosenberg (@katierosenberg) August 6, 2012
No specifics about the investigation will be released at this time. There is no press conference scheduled for this afternoon.
Update:
Label56, the record label that distributed music by white power band End Apathy, released a statement that acknowledges shooting suspect Wade Michael Page was in the band.
Statement from label that produced records of alleged Wisc. shooter's band: http://t.co/heouRR3j
— Sarah Parnass (@WordsOfSarah) August 6, 2012
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