Sikh Temple Gunman Identified; Person of Interest Sought by FBI
Update 2:08 p.m. Officials have released this photo of page (via AP).
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Update 12:04 p.m.: Officials have ended the question period and the press conference. What we know is that officials are making it known that they believe, in spite of the "person of interest," the shooting was the work of a lone gunman. They didn't reveal the details of the ongoing investigation, nor did they elaborate on the unidentified person of interest beyond the fact that the man (pictured below and right) was at the scene and left before being questioned. Officials also did not disclose any more information on the officers shot during the shooting other than their conditions in local hospitals.
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Update 11:45 a.m.: The FBI spokeswoman said they are looking into the suspect's ties with white supremacist groups and explains that they did not have a file on Page in the past.
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Update 11:43 a.m.: Officials are again explaining that they believe there's only one shooter at this time.
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Update 11:40 a.m.: They've opened up the conference to questions now. Police Chief Edwards says the person of interest left the scene before he was questioned. The ATF spokesman says the firearm used in the shooting was purchased legally.
Update 11:39 a.m.: The FBI spokesperson says that Page's image will be released today. An ATF official has the podium now, and is explaining that they know how Page acquired his firearm.
Update 11:35 a.m.: An FBI spokeswoman says that they're looking for tips on this person of interest (right). She says they're not aware of any other threats to the temple at this point. She says the motive is being assessed at this time.
Update 11:20 a.m.: Edwards has announced that the suspect is, as we reported, Wade Michael Page. He was born on November 1, 1971, and as we also reported, served in the military from 1992-1998.
Update 11:16 a.m.: Police Chief John Edwards explains that an officer who was involved with the shooting is resting with his family at a local hospital. He adds that other officers involved in the shooting will not be commenting on the shooting.
Update: 11:05 a.m.: Here's a live feed of the press conference:
Update: 10:14 a.m.: The SPLC cited an interview Page had with the white supremacist website Label 56 this past May. We found that interview on Google Cache. When asked about his band and its background, Wade had this disturbing quote:
A lot of what I realized at the time was that if we could figure out how to end peoples apathetic ways it would be the start towards moving forward. Of course after that it requires discipline, strict discipline to stay the course in our sick society. So, in a sense it was view of psychology and sociology.
And there's this chilling exchange:
As you said End Apathy was entirely your own creation. What was your inspiration for wanting to do the band?
Yes, it was entirely my own idea. The inspiration was based on frustration that we have the potential to accomplish so much more as individuals and a society in whole.
Update 9:45 a.m. : The Southern Poverty Law Center has, what they think is, a picture of Page (right) from his band's MySpace page (yes that's probably a swastika in the background). SPLC says that Page was a frontman of a white-supremacist band called End Apathy. On the End Apathy MySpace page (yes MySpace), he's identified as "Wade" and there's a slideshow with multiple pictures of him. There are also more details coming from Page's time in the army, as The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports he was assigned to psychological operations/PsyOps.
Original: Wade Michael Page. Expect that name to be burned into our brains and ingrained on the bottom third of our television sets now that authorities have named the 40-year-old as the suspect in the Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting that left six people dead and four wounded over the weekend. CBS News reports, "that Page was a former member of the U.S. military, but he was no longer serving actively. It was not immediately clear under what circumstances Page left the military." CBS adds that Page enlisted in April 1992 and was given a less-than-honorable discharge in 1998--he was last stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. CNN and ABC News cite anonymous sources who say that Page have been a white supremacist. Details are still coming in about Page's specifics and according to Fox News, local authorities are holding a 10 a.m. press conference where more details about Page are expected to emerge. Photos of Page have not yet been released. A neighbor of Page's told Fox about a possible breakup with his girlfriend--but officials told other news agencies that what triggered his rampage still remains unclear.
