Suspected Wisconsin Sikh temple shooter was an army vet

As details emerged about the suspected Wisconsin Sikh temple gunman, so too did a tale of heroism. There are reports the temple’s president sustained deadly wounds while trying to save others.

The man police say is responsible for the massacre in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek was a U.S. Army veteran and an alleged white supremacist.

Authorities identified the shooter as Wade Michael Page, 40. Police say he walked into the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on Sunday morning armed with a 9mm handgun and killed six people while worshippers prepared for services.

Details about Page began to emerge Monday. Authorities confirmed he began a career in the U.S. Army in 1992 and was discharged six years later. He started as a repairman for the Hawk missile system and then became a psychological operations, or psy-ops, specialist.

Seven people, including Page, were killed on Sunday morning. Police say Page murdered five men and one woman, ranging in age from 39 to 84, at the temple. Three others were critically wounded. The FBI is leading the investigation into the mass shooting, which it describes as an act of domestic terrorism.

The president of the temple, Satwant Singh Kaleka, was among those killed. He was hailed as a hero by his friends and relatives who said he died while fighting the gunman.

“From what we understand, he basically fought to the very end and suffered gunshot wounds while trying to take down the gunman,” the man’s nephew, Kanwardeep Singh Kaleka, said.

“He was a protector of his own people. Just an incredible individual who showed his love and passion for our people, our faith, to the end,” he said.

“He was definitely one of the most dedicated individuals I have ever seen, one of the happiest people in the world.”

The gunman opened fire when he walked into the kitchen of the temple, as women were preparing a Sunday meal. Four people were gunned down inside the building and three others, including Page, were shot outside.

Authorities said Page ambushed and shot a police officer who was helping a shooting victim. That officer remains in hospital. A second officer shot and killed the gunman.

Page has been described as a neo-Nazi and reportedly fronted a white supremacist metal band called End Apathy. Mark Potok of the nonprofit civil rights organization the Southern Poverty Law Center believes Sunday’s attack was likely an example of someone mistaking Sikhs for Muslims.

The first person murdered in retaliation for the Sept. 11 attacks was a Sikh, Balbir Singh Sodhi — a gas station owner in Arizona. He was shot five times on Sept. 15, 2001. The New York-based Sikh Coalition has reported more than 700 attacks or bias-related incidents.

Witnesses described the gunman as a bald, white man in a white T-shirt and black pants. They also said he had a 9/11 tattoo on his arm. Authorities haven’t confirmed details about a reported tattoo.

With files from The Associated Press and CNN