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Hero cop, 51, shot as
many as NINE times as he responded to Sikh temple shooting at Wisconsin
- but told his colleagues to help other victims first
 A
heroic police officer who was shot as many as nine times as he responded to a
horrific shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin waved off fellow officers and
told them to help other victims first.
Lt. Brian Murphy, 51, was repeatedly shot at close range by gunman Wade
Michael Page outside the temple in Oak Creek after responding to a 911 call
and going to help a victim.
Murphy then tried to disarm Page but suffered multiple gun shots to the neck
and his extremities. Despite these injuries, he waved off help so his fellow
officers could save others.
Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards said that Murphy, along with another
police officer who eventually shot the gunman dead, 'stopped a tragedy that
could have been a lot worse'.
Murphy, a 21-year veteran of the police force, underwent surgery and is now
recovering in hospital with family members at his bedside. He is in critical
condition but is expected to survive.
The Sikh Human Rights Group has reportedly pledged a $10,000 award to Murphy,
who was a finalist for city's police chief post in 2010, for his actions, TMJ4
reported.
'Murphy came upon a victim in the parking lot and exited his vehicle, and went
to assist that individual,' Chief John Edwards during a Monday morning news
conference.
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'It was at that point he was met by the suspect, who basically ambushed him.
He was shot eight to nine times in very close range with a handgun. He was in
very close proximity to the shooter.
'He waved [other people] off, He told them to get to temple and assist in
there. One of the officers returned fire with a rife, putting the individual
down.'
Officers had heard gunfire on arriving but only realized Murphy had been shot
when he the gunman was killed and the officer failed to answer his call.
He was the first officer on the scene to confront 40-year-old Page who killed
six people, aged between 39 and 84, at the temple.
Murphy, who has been a member of Oak Creek police department's tactical team
for years, was born in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to the Midwest to be
closer to his wife's family, ABC reported.
He has a daughter who lives in South Korea and two stepchildren from his
second wife, it added.
Page allegedly walked into the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in suburban Milwaukee
around 10.30 a.m. on Sunday and opened fire as several dozen people prepared
for Sunday services.
It sent worshippers fleeing to escape the barrage - with many hiding in
cupboards and texting the outside world begging for help.
When the shooting ended, seven people lay dead, including Page at the hands of
a police officer. Three others were critically wounded in what officers
branded an act of domestic terrorism.
He used a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, which was recovered at the scene, police
said.
Page, who was discharged from the Army after
six years in 1998, was described by officials at the Southern Poverty Law
Center as a 'frustrated neo-Nazi' who led a racist white supremacist band.
Page told a white supremacist website in 2010 that he had been part of the
white-power music scene since 2000 when he left his native Colorado and
started the band, End Apathy, in 2005.
'There is no doubt in my mind that the heroic actions of our police officers
prevented a greater tragedy'
Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi
He told the website his 'inspiration was based on frustration that we have the
potential to accomplish so much more as individuals and a society in whole,'
according to the SPLC.
He added that End Apathy was all his own idea and that topics included
sociological issues, religion, and how the value of human life has been
degraded by being submissive to tyranny.
End Apathy's biography on the band's MySpace page said their music 'is a sad
commentary on our sick society and the problems that prevent true progress'.
His neighbours in Cudahy, where he moved just two weeks ago, noted that the
man was covered in tattoos and 'kind of kept to himself'.
'I just remember seeing (a tattoo that said) 9-11. I just remember thinking it
was weird, thinking "Why would you have that tattooed on you?"' April Reyna
told TMJ4.
Page is said to have had the tattoo to mark September 11, 2001 - attacks by
Islamic militants.
Dr Lee Biblo, the chief medical officer at
the hospital said they were well prepared to treat the three seriously wounded
as it is a level one trauma center.
He said one victim had suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Another
had been shot multiple times in the face and extremities while the third man
had been shot in the neck.
One victim was the temple's president, 65-year-old Satwant Kaleka who died as
he tried to 'knife and tackle' the shooter. Another was 39-year-old Parkash
Singh, a priest in his thirties.
Manminder Sethi, who worships at the temple, told the Journal-Sentinel: 'He
was a good guy, a noble soul.'
Mr Singh had lived in Oak Creek for several years and recently brought his
wife, daughter and son from India to live with him in the U.S.
The other victims were named as Seeta Singh,
41, Ranjit Singh, 49, Subegh Singh, 84, and the only woman killed in the
attack, 41-year-old Parmjit Kaur, 41.
Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi paid tribute to the victims and police officers
on Monday.
'Sunday was a tragic day for our city, especially as it occurred at a place of
worship,' he said.
'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victims, our wounded
officer, and a community which is still in shock. There is no doubt in my mind
that the heroic actions of our police officers prevented a greater tragedy.'
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2184492/Brian-Murphy-Hero-cop-51-shot-times-responded-Sikh-temple-shooting.html |
