Gunman at Sikh Temple Shot Officer at Close Range

Oak Creek’s police chief says the suspect who opened fire at a Sikh temple shot the first officer on the scene eight to nine times with a handgun at close range.

Police Chief John Edwards says the suspect ambushed the officer outside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin Sunday morning. The gunman, 40-year-old Wade Michael Page, was later shot to death by another officer. Edwards says his senior officers did exactly what was expected of them.

“I was asked today ‘what do you think of their actions?’ It didn’t surprise me in the least what they did today. They all did what they had to do, helped another officer, and stopped a worse tragedy from happening by their actions.”

The wounded officer, 51-year-old Brian Murphy, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Edwards says Murphy waved off colleagues who tried to come to his aid outside the temple, telling them instead to go tend to the victims who had been shot inside.

Murphy is a 21-year veteran of the police force and a tactical team leader.