Thursday 2 June 2022 05:22 PM Gunman who killed four in Tulsa hospital rampage legally bought assault rifle ... trends now
The gunman who shot and killed four people in a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before taking his own life had been a back surgery patient determined to kill his surgeon over lingering pain and had legally bought the assault rifle he used in the shooting less than three hours prior to the tragedy.
Tulsa Police chief Wendell Franklin said Michael Louis, 45, who killed four people at the Saint Francis Hospital on Wednesday was found with a letter that stated his intent to kill Dr. Preston Phillips, who operated on him on May 19, 'and anyone who got in his way'.
Franklin said Louis had called Phillips about lingering back pain for days and saw the doctor again on May 31 before returning the following day to kill the surgeon, along with Dr. Stephanie Husen, receptionist Amanda Green and patient William Love.
Franklin added that Louis had used an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle that he purchased at a local gun shop less than three hours before the shooting and was also armed with a .45 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun, which he purchased on May 29 at a pawn shop.
Police have recovered a total of 37 shell casings at the hospital, 30 from the rifle and seven from the pistol.
Michael Louis, 45, entered the Saint Francis Hospital on Wednesday to kill his back surgeon, Dr. Preston Phillips (pictured)
At least five people, including the gunman by self-inflicted gunshot, were killed in a shooting at Natalie Building at St Francis Hospital in Tulsa
Captain Richard Meulenberg of the Tulsa Police Department told reporters: 'It's a catastrophic scene in there right now'
A woman cries while talking on the phone outside at Memorial High School where people were evacuated from the scene
Family members hug as they are reunited at Memorial High School after being evacuated from the scene of a shooting at the Natalie Medical Building
St. Francis Health System locked down its campus Wednesday afternoon because of the situation at the Natalie Medical Building, an outpatient surgery center and a breast health center.
Franklin said police got a call at 4:52 p.m. on June 1 about the shooting taking place at the medical center, with police arriving at the scene four minutes later.
Officers breached the building at 4:57 p.m., hearing a gun shot seconds later believed to be the final shot that Louis fired to kill himself in Phillip's office.
The Tulsa chief added that one of those killed in the attack had been struck when they were holding the door for others to escape.
Hospital President and CEO Dr. Cliff Robertson teared up as he recounted what happened in the hospital and lamented the loss of three of his staff members.
'These were three of the best people in the entire world committed to taking care of others,' Robertson said. 'They didn't deserve to die this way.'
Louis's niece told The Daily Beast police contacted her family, adding that they did not want to be identified because they're 'disgusted' over the shooting.
'We are so distraught,' she said. 'I don’t even want to be associated because I’m so disgusted.
'It’s
