Gunman Targeted Surgeon In Tulsa Hospital Shooting: Police

TULSA, OK — A patient targeted his surgeon in a shooting Wednesday at a medical building on a Tulsa hospital campus, killing four people before killing himself, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said at a news conference Thursday.

Michael Louis, armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, shot and killed Dr. Preston Phillips, who recently performed back surgery on Louis, and three other people at St. Francis Hospital, Franklin said. Police identified the other three victims as Dr. Stephanie Husen, Amanda Green and William Love.

The victims and gunman were found on the second floor of the Natalie Medical Building, which houses an orthopedic clinic.

Police received a call at 4:52 p.m. Wednesday from a third party who was on a video call with someone at the hospital, saying there was a shooting at the facility, according to Franklin.

Officers arrived at 4:56 p.m. and began clearing the Natalie Medical Building, a five-story medical building with many rooms and offices, making it a "complex" building for responding to an active shooter situation, Franklin said. Shortly after, officers heard a gunshot, which they believe was the final gunshot in which the gunman took his life.

Police found a letter on the gunman that "made it clear" Louis was targeting Phillips and anyone who got in his way. Louis blamed Phillips for his ongoing back pain, authorities said. Police recovered 37 total bullet casings.

Louis received back surgery from Phillips on May 19 and was released May 24, police said. Louis called several times over the next few days complaining of pain and wanting additional treatment. Phillips saw Louis for additional treatment on Tuesday, and Louis called again Wednesday complaining of back pain and wanting additional assistance.

Louis purchased an AR-15-style rifle from a local gun store at 2 p.m. Wednesday and had purchased a semi-automatic pistol on May 29 from local pawn shop, authorities said.

Louis entered the building through a second-floor door "without a challenge," Franklin said.

Fewer than 10 other people were injured in the shooting at St. Francis Hospital, police told CNN.

All appointments at the orthopedic clinic were canceled through Friday.

The shooting comes just more than a week after 21 people — 19 students and two teachers — were killed in a massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It's also barely two weeks after another gunman killed 10 Black people in a racist attack at a Buffalo grocery store.

Police executed a search warrant at a home in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as part of the investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.