Fox Valley Sikh temple reacts to shooting

MENASHA, WI-- Fear from Sunday's shooting is being felt at a Fox Valley temple.

CREATED Aug. 5, 2012

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  • Fear from Sunday's shooting is being felt at a Fox Valley temple. Video by nbc26.com

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MENASHA, WI-- Fear from Sunday's shooting is being felt at a Fox Valley temple. The chairman of the temple in Menasha says he cancelled service Sunday because he's scared of a possible copycat crime.

The Sikhs in Menasha have requested police presence at their temple, and police confirm they are doing extra patrols.

They say they want to be safe as they take in the tragedy.

The temple in Menasha is a somber place as people grieve about the lives lost.

"I have a very close friend, I heard he died," said the priest at the temple, Bhagwant Balli.

When the shooting took place Balli was giving a sermon at the Sikh temple in Menasha.

He quickly wrapped up and service let out early.

Hours later Bali says he still can't believe what happened.

"I don't know what they thought...Why they shoot...Why they went over there killing people," said Balli.

The temple's chairman says he too, is in shock.

"I never thought this would happen. This is something that happened that is very unfortunate," said Dr. Kamaljit Paul.

Paul says the priest at the Oak Creek Temple had close ties to the temple in Menasha.

"I know quite a few people there. The priest sometimes comes here and does the service here. We are not very sure but we heard he was also one of the victims," said Paul.

As the sikhs in Menasha try to make sense of it all, Bali says he worries his religion has been confused with Islam. He doesn't understand why anyone would attack sikhs. He says sikhism is founded on peacefulness and equality.

"We don't have any problem with anybody I don't know why this thing would happen," said Balli.

Services at the temple in Menasha are suspended indefinitely.