Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Aug 7 : New details are emerging about the shooter at a Sikh gurdwara in Wisconsin, and his victims.
The killer Wade Michael Page was bald, heavily tattooed and played bass in white supremacist heavy metal bands with names such as Definite Hate and End Apathy.
Page was a 40-year-old Army veteran who trained in psychological warfare before he was demoted and discharged more than a decade ago.
He was demoted in June 1998 for getting drunk while on duty and going absent without leave, two defence officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to release information about the gunman.
Former neighbour David Brown said he was glad to see the back of him, describing him as "Very standoffish."
The FBI was leading the investigation because the shooting was considered domestic terrorism. The agency said it had no reason to believe anyone other than Page was involved.
Page entered the Sikh gurdwara of Wisconsin as several dozen people prepared for Sunday services. He opened fire without saying a word.
The president of the temple died defending the house of worship he founded.
Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65, managed to find a simple butter knife in the temple and attempted to stab the gunman before being shot twice, his son said on Monday.
Amardeep Singh Kaleka said FBI agents hugged him, shook his hand and told him his father was a hero.
"He worked his behind off. 18 hours a day in some of the worst neighbourhoods you've ever seen," said Kaleka of his father during a news conference on Monday.
Police say Page ambushed one of the first officers to respond to the incident.
"The officer was shot eight to nine times at very close range," said Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards.
The shootings ended when police fatally shot Page, but not before six others were killed and three critically wounded.
Of the wounded trio, Dr Lee Biblo of Froedtert Hospital said they were "currently all alive and in critical condition."
"These senseless gunshots wounded an heroic officer of the law and two peaceful persons praying in their house of worship," he added.The six dead ranged in age from 39 to 84 years old.
