Wade Michael Page was born on November 11, 1971, in Colorado. He grew up in this state and spent his early life there. Wade joined the U.S. Army in April 1992, where he served until October 1998. During his time in the Army, he learned to repair the Hawk missile system and later became a psychological operations specialist. However, he faced issues during his service that led to a general discharge. This included patterns of misconduct such as being drunk while on duty and going absent without leave.

After leaving the Army, Wade returned to Colorado and lived in the suburb of Littleton from 2000 to 2007. In 2006, he began working as a truck driver, a job he held until 2010. His employment ended after he received a citation for impaired driving due to alcohol.

During his later years, Wade had connections to white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups. He was reportedly affiliated with the Hammerskins. He became active in the white power music scene starting in 2000 and was involved in several neo-Nazi bands. In 2005, he founded a band called End Apathy and also played in other bands known for their racist themes.

On August 5, 2012, Wade Michael Page carried out a mass shooting at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The gurdwara was busy preparing langar, a communal meal, and many people, including women and children, were present. Page arrived at the scene armed with a 9mm Springfield XD(M) semi-automatic pistol, which he had purchased legally in Wisconsin.

At approximately 10:25 a.m., the police received emergency calls reporting a shooting. When the officers arrived, they confronted Page, who had already shot several people. In total, he killed six individuals, including five men and one woman, and wounded several others, including one police officer. Page shot the officer, Lieutenant Brian Murphy, fifteen times at close range. After being wounded himself by another officer, Page took his own life by shooting himself in the head.

The victims ranged in age from 39 to 84 years old. Four of the deceased were Indian nationals, while the others were American citizens. The gunman died at the scene alongside three others. In the aftermath of the incident, the FBI and local authorities treated the shooting as a case of domestic terrorism.

The investigation turned its focus towards Page's connections to white supremacist groups and his motives. The entire event prompted a national conversation about hate crimes and gun control, with significant media attention and public outcry. Page's actions were widely condemned, and the Sikh community, along with many others, mourned the tragic loss of life. The shooting left a lasting impact on the community and raised awareness of violence against minority groups in the United States.