Ranjit Singh, a 48-year-old Southwest Asian male of Indian descent, was among the victims of a tragic mass shooting on August 5, 2012. On that Sunday morning, a gunman opened fire at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek. Ranjit Singh, along with his brother Sita Singh, both priests at the temple, were killed in the attack. Ranjit Singh had moved to the United States in 1997, leaving his family in India with the hope of providing them a better future.
He worked various jobs during the week to send money home and was planning his first trip back to India in November 2012 for the Diwali celebration.
The perpetrator of this act of domestic terrorism was identified as 40-year-old Wade Michael Page, a U.S. Army veteran with ties to white supremacist groups. Page entered the temple armed with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and began shooting worshippers who were gathering for Sunday services. In the end, six people were fatally shot, and four others were wounded. A seventh victim succumbed to his injuries years later.
Responding to emergency calls, Oak Creek police engaged the gunman outside the temple. During the confrontation, Page wounded an officer before being shot by another officer. After being wounded, Page died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The FBI investigated the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime. As Page was the sole perpetrator and was killed at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with the shooting.
