One person has reportedly been killed and two others shot in a hostage situation in a Wisconsin temple according to Reuters. Children were said to be among the hostages at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, which is located about 20 minutes south of Milwaukee.

There hasn't been confirmation on the number of people that were in the building but witnesses did say that a gunman began shooting during a Sunday service around 10:30 am. ABC News reports that police chief Brad Wentlandt said the gunman was "put down" after engaging an officer, who also has been shot.

"An officer arrived and engaged the suspect," Wentlandt told the media assembled outside. "That officer was shot multiple times. He is expected to survive. The officer exchanged fire with the shooter. The shooter was put down."

Chief Wentlant also said he was not sure if there were other shooters in the area.

Between 50 and 100 people were thought to be at the Sunday service although some attendees had been able to escape.

Much of what is known about the situation so far is from a contact that was made with a Sikh priest, who was hiding in a bathroom with a cell phone. One of the temple's committee members said that the shooter of the possible two was a white male in his 30s or 40s and the motive isn't yet known. He was said to have been a bald, heavyset man wielding two handguns.

"We have no idea," Ven Boba Ri said. "It's pretty much a hate crime. It's not an insider."

Ven Boba Ri also said he has been fielding phone calls from concerned relatives both domestically and from India.

A.J. Bayatpour, a local journalist, tweeted that the Red cross and FBI were on the scene.

"For those who haven't seen media briefing: one officer, one gunman confirmed shot. No official victim or suspect count," he wrote. "Again, Sikhs are not Muslims. However they wear turbans and have beards. Could help explain if this is a hate crime."

At 1:06 pm the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that a police SWAT team was able to enter the building and bring out some of the injured people from a prayer room. At least two dozen ambulances were at the scene and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner said they had not been called to the temple as of 12:30 pm.

--