Three hospital employees and one patient have been identified as the victims of the mass shooting at the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, southeast Oklahoma.
Tulsa Police Department Chief Wendell Franklin told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday that two physicians and a Saint Francis Healthcare System receptionist were among the four people killed.
A patient was also among the victims shot dead by suspect gunman Michael Louis, who police found dead with self-inflicted wounds.
The four victims were identified as Dr Preston Phillips, Dr Stephanie Husen, receptionist Amanda Glenn, and William Love, the patient.
Police Chief Franklin said the gunman wanted to kill Dr Phillips because of pain he was experiencing after recent back surgery, and had purchased an AR-15 style rifle hours before the physician was killed.
“On May 19 Michael Louis went for back surgery” said the police chief. “[He] called several times over several days complaining of pain and wanted additional treatment”.
He said Mr Louis went for follow-up treatment on 31 May, and on “June 1 Mr Louis called Dr Phillips office again and wanting additional assistance”.
“Now we know through the help of our ATF and our gun tracing teams that on 2pm at June 1 he purchased a semi automatic rifle from a local gun store,” said police. “That semi automatic rifle was an AR-15 style rifle”.
Mr Franklin said after officers found Mr Louis’s. body, “We found a letter on the suspect that he wanted to kill Dr Phillips and would kill anyone that got on his way, he blamed Dr Phillips for the pain following his surgery”.
Dr Phillips was remembered as a consumate gentleman and humanitarian, who often took mission trips to Togo to provide medical services to the less fortunate.
“You always call me a son and I call you father. You told me last week at work during lunchtime to not stop this project in Togo in case something happens to you. I did not know that you were giving me the last advice for our journey," his colleague Dr Komi Folly wrote on Facebook.
The orthopedic surgeon was also once the lead physician for Tulsa’s professional WNBA basketball team.
Love, a Saint Francis patient at the time of the shooting, held a door closed and allowed another individual to escape the gunman, according to police.
Love was a US Army veteran who retired as a first sergeant.
Glenn, the receptionist, was a mother to two teen boys, and described by colleagues as “the nicest and most loving person you will ever meet.”
“I haven’t really came up with the words yet… I honestly have no idea what to say because I’ve been hysterically crying since I found out,” her brother, Jim Massengill, wrote on Facebook.
“But my sister Amanda Glenn was killed in the hospital shooting yesterday … more than me, her Husband and Children need all the love and support everyone can give them … my sister was one of the most kind and caring individuals to ever live … I wish I had more to say … but I’m still in complete shock.”
Dr Stephanie Husen’s sorority sisters at Chi Omega paid tribute to her on social media after her death in the shooting.
“Today we mourn the loss of one of our own members of PC’92. Our hearts are with the family and loved ones who lost such an incredible woman,” the tribute reads. “She was known and loved by so many and will always be remembered. No words could ever take away the pain of those affected, but know that we are here in full support and will continue to pray.”
Neighbours also told The Oklahoman Husen was frequently seen around the area walking her dog Boomer, and offering friends and acquiantances who stopped her medical advice.
Police said earlier that the attack was not random and police told reporters the gunman was “very specific” about his location – the second floor of the Natalie Medical Building on the Saint Francis Hospital Campus.
At least two of the victims were found in the same room as the gunman, and local reports said one person was found wounded in a closet and later died while being taken to hospital.
In an earlier statement, the healthcare system said “members of our family” were killed and asked for prayers.
“Saint Francis Health System is grieving the loss of four members of our family,” the organisation said in a statement seen by KTUL-TV and others. “As a faith based organisation, the only recourse we have at this moment is to pray while we navigate this tragedy.”
The healthcare system added in its statement: “We are sincerely thankful for the quick response by the Tulsa Police Department, first responders and EMS agencies. And, our deepest gratitude extends to the members of our own Saint Francis family who cared for their own during this incident.”
