Investigators are still searching for a motive in the shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin earlier this week. A spokesperson for Milwaukee's Sikh community said they 'are overwhelmed by the response' by mourners from around the country.
(Reuters) The Wisconsin Sikh temple where six worshippers were gunned
down by a white supremacist reopened its doors on Thursday, as mourners from
around the country converged on Oak Creek ahead of a public wake and private
funerals.
Thousands are expected to attend Friday's wake at Oak Creek High School,
where the bodies of the six victims will lie in repose, according to local Sikh
leaders. Among those expected to attend were Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
and Attorney General Eric Holder.
"Grief shared is grief halved," said Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, a
spokesperson for the Sikh community in Milwaukee, referring to the dozens of vigils
for the victims held throughout the nation this week.
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"It restores our faith in humanity. We are overwhelmed by the
response," he added.
Satwant Singh Kaleka, the 65-year-old president of the congregation, was
among the victims. The others who died were Sita Singh, 41; Ranjit Singh, 49;
Prakash Singh, 39; Paramjit Kaur, 41; and Suveg Singh, 84.
The gunman, Wade Michael Page, a 40-year-old U.S. Army veteran with
links to racist groups, also wounded three others seriously when he opened fire
on worshipers Sunday morning. Page was shot in the stomach by a responding
officer before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The two-hour wake will be held in the high school's gymnasium about two
miles (3.2 km) south of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where the shooting
occurred. Sikh religious leaders will lead prayers and hymns during the
ceremony as a procession of mourners pass the bodies.
The wake will be followed by private funeral ceremonies in the afternoon
at a crematorium.
Investigators, who are still searching for a motive, released the temple
back to the Sikh congregation on Thursday morning.
(Editing by Paul Thomasch and Philip Barbara)
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