(WITI/WTVR) - Police say seven people, including a gunman, were killed Sunday after a shooting at a Sikh temple in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Three others were injured in the shooting.
Authorities say four people were killed inside, and three others, including the gunman, were shot outside the temple.
WITI-TV reports multiple police departments responded after a man walked into Sikh Temple and opened fire. [WATCH: LIVE coverage of shooting at temple in Wisconsin]
Greenfield Police Chief Brad Wentlandt said Oak Creek dispatch received several 911 calls regarding a shooting at the temple around 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police say the first officer to the scene — a 20-year veteran, accomplished tactical officer, along with another officer were attending to a victim at the scene when they were ambushed by the gunman. The second officer engaged the active shooter, and according to police, the shooter died as a result of that officer’s actions.
The first responding officer was shot multiple times. The officer was transported to the hospital, and was in surgery for multiple gunshot wounds. Police say the officer shot is expected to survive. His name has not yet been released, pending family notification.
Police say there was a service going on inside the temple at the time of the shooting. It took officials most of the afternoon and into the early evening to clear and secure the temple and surrounding area. [BONUS: Sikhs tout equality, service to others]
Police say they believe this to be an act of “domestic terrorism,” which is defined as an act of terrorism occurring within the United States. Police said weapons were recovered at the scene, but have not elaborated on that at this time.
The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office are assisting with the ongoing investigation, which is being led by the FBI.
Police have not released any information on the suspect at this time — saying that information is part of the ongoing investigation.
Froedtert Hospital has confirmed three men were transported to the hospital following the shooting. Froedtert officials say all three are in critical condition. Froedtert officials said one man was shot in the abdomen and chest, one in the extremities and face and one in the neck. Two had undergone surgeries and another was undergoing a “complex procedure.” One of those three individuals is the first responding Oak Creek police officer.
Froedtert Hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and officials say it is “unfortunately not uncommon” to handle three shooting victims at one time.
A Sikh Temple member at the scene told WITI-TV the temple has an attendance of about 400-500 people per week.
The Sikh religion is based in northern India, and one church member says the religion has a Milwaukee-area population of around 1,000. The religion has a population in India of 2.5 million.
RELATED:
Check back with WTVR.com and watch CBS 6 News at 6:30 p.m. for the latest on this developing story.
