TULSA, Oklahoma – A gunman killed five people, including himself, and injured multiple people in a shooting at Saint Francis Hospital at 61st and Yale on June 1. Tulsa Police identified the shooter as Michael Louis.
The victims were identified as Dr. Preston Phillips, Dr. Stephanie Husen, Amanda Green, and William Love. Dr. Phillips was an Orthopedic Surgeon, and Dr. Husen was a Sports Medicine Specialist with Saint Francis Medical. Green was an office receptionist, and Love was a Vietnam Veteran. Love was accompanying his wife, a patient in the building at the shooting time.
Tulsa Police said Louis targeted the second floor of the Natalie Building on the medical campus because Dr. Phillips’ office was located there. Louis was a patient of Dr. Phillips. Louis’ motive for the shooting was the severe back pain he believed was caused by a procedure performed by Dr. Phillips. Louis had just seen Dr. Phillips for a follow-up treatment to the procedure on May 31, according to Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin.
On Wednesday at 4:52 PM, a 911 active shooter call was made. According to Tulsa Police, the shooter committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after law enforcement officers entered the building. By 4:56 PM, Tulsa Police Officers were on scene at an approximate response time of three to four minutes.
Officers then swept the medical building to evacuate occupants safely and secure the perimeter.
A bomb threat at Louis’ residence in Muskogee connected to the shooting was investigated by Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Upon investigation, no explosive materials were found.
Guns used in the shooting involve a semi-automatic rifle and a semi-automatic handgun. Both were purchased legally. The rifle was purchased just a few hours before the shooting. The handgun was purchased just days prior, on May 29.
Federal Agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearm, Tobacco, and Explosives, were called to the site in Tulsa to assist in the situation.
Law enforcement from across Tulsa County and neighboring counties, including MCN Lighthorse Police, responded to the call about an active shooter situation. According to Captain of Investigations Jere Lee Smith, patrolmen from the Lighthorse Northern Division were the first from the MCN law enforcement to respond to the threat.
Once secure and the area was determined to be safe, Lighthorse was divided into teams to help conduct searches. Lighthorse officers also relieved Tulsa Police Officers from the crime scene so they could return to their regular patrols, according to Smith.
“It was very organized. Every agency that was out there knew what to do,” Captain Smith said.
Lighthorse Officers assisted authorities by shutting down Yale Avenue and diverting traffic away from the area. Many law enforcement and emergency response vehicles were seen at the medical building.
No law enforcement officers from any local or federal department were injured during the shooting.
The shooting location was within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation jurisdiction. It is unknown whether the shooter or the victims were MCN Citizens.
Saint Francis was the second major shooting Lighthorse Police responded to within a week, the first being the shooting in Taft over Memorial Day Weekend. That shooting left one dead and injured seven others.
In light of the recent local shootings, MCN Lighthorse Officials have begun to organize active shooter protocols and emergency preparedness plans. “Once we get stuff in place for our daycares, schools, clinics, hospitals, we have a lot in front of us, but we will get there,” Chief Richard Phillips said.
According to Captain Smith, coincidentally, members from the Lighthorse Police Department underwent active shooter training the week prior. “It’s very surreal just coming back from the active shooter conference and then witnessing it now and being firsthand involved,” Captain Smith said.
In a statement released on Thursday, MCN Principal Chief David Hill said the recent tragedies have deeply affected the Nation.
“In the past few weeks, the Muscogee Nation, along with the world, has been saddened and dismayed by the senseless acts of mass violence in the United States. Most recently, our worst fears have been realized, with incidents in Tulsa and Taft occurring here on the Muscogee Reservation. While we are thankful for the swift and collaborative efforts of inter-agency law enforcement work with our Lighthorse Police Department in responding to these matters, we no doubt are left with grief and despair for the lives lost and those forever changed by these crimes.”
Gun Violence Archive, an online nonprofit organization, marks the Tulsa shooting case as the 233rd mass shooting in the United States this year.
The Saint Francis shooting comes just over a week after the Uvalde mass shooting in Texas when a gunman opened fire, killing 21 people, including two teachers and 19 children.
President Biden is scheduled to give remarks on the recent national mass shootings at 7:30 PM (ET) on June 2.
If you would like to learn more about mass shooting statistics in the United States visit: https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/.
