Mass Shooting at Oklahoma Medical Campus

A patient who grew frustrated with the amount of pain he was experiencing after undergoing back surgery gunned down four people on Wednesday in a medical building on the campus of Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, Okla. The surgeon who performed the procedure was among the victims.

Tulsa police identified the gunman as Michael Louis, who was operated on by Preston Phillips, MD, on May 19. Mr. Louis had experienced pain since his surgery and called Dr. Phillips’ office several times over a period of several days to complain and ask for relief, according to Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin, who provided details about the shooting during a Thursday press conference.

Mr. Louis called again on Wednesday morning to seek further treatment before coming to the clinic to kill Dr. Phillips. He also shot and killed orthopedic surgeon Stephanie Husen, DO, receptionist Amanda Glenn and patient William Love. Dr. Phillips was found dead in an exam room and Mr. Louis was discovered in the clinic’s lobby after taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A letter found on Mr. Louis after the shootings said he be blamed Dr. Phillips for his pain and planned to kill him and anyone who stood in his way.

Mr. Louis legally purchased an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle from a local gun store hours before the shooting and had bought a 40-caliber semi-automatic pistol at a pawn shop on May 29.

Tulsa police were called to the Natalie Medical Building on the Saint Francis campus shortly before 5 p.m. after receiving reports of a mass shooting. The chaotic scene at the clinic included first responders wheeling wounded victims out on stretchers. A reunification center was set up at a nearby high school for employees and patients who were in the building to connect with their loved ones after news of the mass shooting broke.

"We’re grieving the loss of four members of our family," says a statement released by the Saint Francis Health System. "Out of respect for the families, we are not commenting on or releasing names of those lost or injured at this time."

"We are sincerely thankful for the quick response by the Tulsa Police Department, first responders and EMS agencies. Our deepest gratitude extends to the members of our own Saint Francis family who cared for their own during this incident."