Gunman kills three and himself at Wisconsin salon

 

A gunman opened fire at a Wisconsin spa today, injuring at least seven people.

The area is on lockdown as authorities in Brookfield, Wisc., work to secure the scene, which is across the street from a shopping mall.

The suspect remains at large and authorities believe they know who is responsible for the carnage. It was unclear whether he fled the scene or could be inside the Azana Salon & Day Spa, where the shooting occurred. The spa is 9,000 square feet and covers two stories.

The shooting erupted about 11: 15 a.m CT, and shortly after SWAT teams surrounded the spa with their guns drawn, preparing for a tactical situation, ABC News’ affiliate WISN reported. Hostage negotiators are also on the scene, however there has been no confirmation this is a hostage situation.

At least four people were treated with non-critical injuries, while three more were en route to Froedert Hospital, WISN reported. The hospital was placed on lock down and only patients with a police escort are being accepted, WISN reported.

The Westmoor Country Club, which shares a parking lot with the spa, has been on lockdown since the incident, said the club’s chief operating officer Joe Coen.

“We didn’t hear anything but ventured to the north toward the spa and we could clearly see police officers with what looked like to be a rifle and a few attendants were coming out of the building,” he said. “We quickly retreated back to the building where authorities have told us to stay.”

Coen said he has been “peeking” out of the building and has noticed the same SWAT squads are still in place with their weapon drawn, as they were when he first found out about the situation around noon.

Gov. Scott Walker pledged his support for the victims and the community.

“Senseless acts of violence leave us with heavy hearts and many questions,” Walker said in a statement. “Our state will stand with the victims and their families, and we will provide them with the law enforcement and community support they need to heal in the coming days.”

This is not the first time a violent shooting has rocked the area.

On Aug. 5, Wade Michael Page, an Army veteran and white supremacist, killed six people and injured three others before fatally shooting himself at a Sikh temple south of Milwaukee.

In 2005, less than a mile away, a gunman killed seven people and wounded four more at a church service at the Sheraton Hotel. Terry Michael Ratzmann, the 44-year-old gunman, then committed suicide.

Gunman kills three and himself at Wisconsin salon