(Fwrd Axis) — The Tulsa gunman who killed four people at a hospital on Wednesday bought an AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting on the day of the attack, police said.
The gunman, identified as Michael Louis, was armed with an AR-15 rifle, which he had purchased at 2 p.m. Wednesday before going to St. Francis Hospital shortly before 5 p.m., officials said.
He opened fire just after 4 p.m. inside the Natalie Building, killing Dr. Preston Phillips and Dr. Stephanie Husen, receptionist Amanda Glenn and a patient, William Love, police said at a news conference on Thursday.
Police said the shooter was a patient of Phillips and underwent back surgery on May 19.
The shooter was released from the hospital on May 24 and repeatedly complained of being in pain in the days afterward. He then went back on May 31, still complaining of pain following his back surgery.
Michael Louis / Obtained by FWRD AXIS News
Officials said the shooter “blamed” Phillips for his pain.
Police said the shooter brought a note with him, which “made it clear that he came in with the intent to kill Dr. Phillips and anyone who got in his way.”
“He blamed Dr. Phillips for the ongoing pain following the surgery,” he said.
Police were called to the second floor of the five-story building at 4:25 p.m., a doctor was on a video call with someone and told the person to call 911 after hearing shots being fired. Phillips was found dead in an examination room.
Those who were wounded have been treated and released, the hospital official said.
The shooting comes as several gun violence incidents are happening across the country. An 18-year-old gunman motivated by hatred killed 10 people and three were wounded during a mass shooting in a supermarket in Buffalo on May 15, the next day saw victims were reported in a church shooting in Orange County, and 19 students and two teachers were killed in a school shooting on May 24.
Vice President Kamala Harris commented on the shooting Thursday and President Joe Biden will address the nation later in the evening.
“No more excuses. Thoughts and prayers are important but not enough. We need Congress to act,” she said.
