WASHINGTON - A gunman opened fire at a religious service being held in a hotel in the northern city of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Saturday, killing at least four people before turning the weapon on himself, police said.
Another seven to eight people were wounded in the incident and rushed to hospital, where most remain in serious condition, Sherri Stigler, a local police department communications officer, told AFP in a telephone interview.
"He shot four people and then himself," she added. "We don`t know his motives at this time."
The official toll, however, was expected to grow following unconfirmed reports that some of the wounded had also passed away, despite efforts by doctors to save their lives.
"I believe they are confirming a number of new deaths," a police source said on condition of anonymity. "I don`t know exactly" how many.
The identity of the assailant has not been released.
According to Stigler, the shooting started shortly before 1:00 pm (1900 GMT) when at least two church groups were holding services at a Sheraton Hotel in Brookfield, a suburb of the city of Milwaukee.
The assailant burst into one of the conference rooms and opened fire indiscriminately on people inside, creating pandemonium among those present.
The victims ranged in age from their early teens to their 60s.
No accomplice is being sought by police at this time. "It sounds to me as though he was acting alone," Stigler said.
03/12/2005 22:48 GMT