Milwaukee Sikh slayings: Gunman’s family expresses regret

The family of temple gunman Wade Michael Page texted a statement to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter, expressing regret and asking for privacy.

Page, who killed six and critically wounded three at a Milwaukee-area Sikh temple on Sunday, died in a shootout with police. The FBI is investigating the attack as a hate crime.

A white supremacist, Page had most recently lived in Wisconsin but reportedly was from Denver.

His family’s statement reads:

“As the family of Wade Page, we are devastated by the horrific events that occurred Sunday in Oak Creek Wisconsin. While there can be no words of comfort that will make sense of what happened that day, please be aware that our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. We share in their grief for all who lost their lives that day and for those survivors, we hope for a speedy recovery. We have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate with the investigation in any way we can. Please respect our privacy as we try to deal with the tragic loss of life and family.”

Page’s grandmother, Elaine Lenz of Denver, told the Journal Sentinel in an interview that Page sent her a dozen roses two weeks ago, “just to tell me he loved me.”

“I’m sorry he has caused so much trouble,” she said.

ALSO:

Sikh temple slayings: ‘Person of interest’ ruled out

Temple slayings: Cop and Sikh leader confronted gunman

Sikh temple slayings: Gunman had been on investigators’ radar