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XPost: stl.general

A deranged gunman with a rifle and a handgun who killed four
people at an Oklahoma medical building targeted a doctor who
previously operated on him “and anyone who got in his way,”
authorities said Thursday.

The gunman, identified as Michael Louis, opened fire at about 5
p.m. Wednesday at an orthopedic office on the second floor of
the Natalie Medical Building at Saint Francis Health System in
Tulsa, Police Chief Wendell Franklin told reporters at a press
conference.

Louis, 45, of Muskogee, went to the hospital on May 19 for back
surgery, which was performed by Dr. Preston Phillips. Louis was
released on May 24, Franklin said.

Louis proceeded to call several times to complain of pain and
sought additional treatment. He then saw Phillips on Tuesday and
called the doctor’s office again on Wednesday seeking additional
help, Franklin said.

It is unclear what sort of help Louis was seeking.

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A webpage on Saint Francis’ website identified Phillips as a
board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in spinal
surgery and joint reconstruction.

About an hour before the shooting, Louis legally bought a semi-
automatic AR-15-style rifle from a local gun store and purchased
a semi-automatic handgun on May 29 from a local pawn shop,
Franklin said.

Cops recovered dozens of spent shell casings from the shooting
scene, as well as a letter penned by Louis that made it clear he
intended to kill Phillips and “anyone who got in his way”
following the surgery that he claimed had left him ailing,
Franklin said.

“He blamed Dr. Phillips for the ongoing pain following the
surgery,” Franklin told reporters.

In addition to Phillips, Franklin identified Wednesday’s
shooting victims as Dr. Stephanie J. Husen, receptionist Amanda
Glenn and William Love, who was a patient at the clinic.

“They stood in the way and Louis gunned them down,” Tulsa’s top
cop said. “He began firing at anyone who was in his way.”

Louis took his own life following the rampage, authorities said.

He managed to get inside the facility via a second-floor garage,
where he parked before he “worked his way into the building,”
Franklin said.

Investigators on Thursday were looking into whether police had
any prior contact with Louis.

A woman who lives just a few doors away from Louis, his wife and
their teen daughter in Muskogee told The Post the family had
been in the neighborhood for roughly five years.

Louis’ wife, whom the neighbor identified as Dr. Edith Lubin,
and her daughter are “church-going religious people,” according
to the neighbor who requested that her name not be published.

“But I’ve never spoken to him,” the woman said of Louis.
“They’ve been quiet, good neighbors.”

Several health care-related websites identified Dr. Lubin as a
family medicine physician in Muskogee. Attempts to reach her
were unsuccessful.

Cops arrived at the hospital campus about three minutes after
dispatchers were called for an active shooter and made contact
with Louis at 5:01 p.m., Tulsa police Deputy Chief Eric
Dalgleish told reporters Wednesday.

Officers initially heard shots being fired at an orthopedic
office on the second floor of the Natalie Medical Building at
Saint Francis Hospital, Dalgleish said.

“That’s what directed them to the second floor,” Dalgleish said
Wednesday. “Right now, we have four civilians that are dead. We
have one shooter that is dead. Right now, we believe that is
self-inflicted.”

The shooting scene was “fairly limited” to the building’s second
floor, Dalgleish said, adding that detectives were interviewing
witnesses late Wednesday.

No officers were injured, Dalgleish said.

The suspect’s identity was not released Wednesday, but Dalgleish
identified him as a black male believed to be between the ages
of 35 and 40.

“We have confirmed he had one long gun — a rifle — and one
handgun on the scene at the time,” the deputy chief said.

The Saint Francis Health System said late Wednesday it was
grieving the loss of “four members of our family,” but did not
identify the victims.

“As a faith-based organization, the only recourse we have at
this moment is to pray while we navigate this tragedy,”
officials said in a statement. “Out of respect for the families,
we are not commenting on or releasing names of those lost or
injured at this time.”

All appointments at the orthopedic clinic in the Natalie
Building will be “closed until further notice,” Saint Francis
officials said.

Wednesday’s attack marked the 233rd mass shooting in the US this
year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines such
incidents as at least four people being shot or killed excluding
the shooter.

The attack occurred just one week after an 18-year-old gunman
slaughtered 19 students and two teachers on May 24 at Robb
Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Flags throughout Oklahoma were ordered to be flown at half-staff
for four days in the aftermath of the mass shooting, officials
said.

Saint Francis Health System set up a fund Thursday to help
victims’ families and employees in the aftermath of the
“incomprehensible” shooting.

“To be clear, we are not asking for donations, but we know that
this is a generous community and people want to do something,”
hospital officials said in statement. “This is one option.”

In a touching tribute posted early Thursday, a colleague who
went on medical missions with Phillips to Africa said the late
doctor was an inspiration to him.

“Dr. Phillips, I thought we were preparing to go on a surgical
mission in Togo, but I found out yesterday during a shooting at
work that a gunman took you away from me, our mission team, your
family, your patients and the Togolese people,” Dr. Komi Folly
posted on Facebook.

Phillips “always” called Folly his son — and the younger doctor
considered his elder counterpart to be like a father figure.

“You told me last week at work during lunchtime to not stop this
project in Togo in case something happens to you,” Folly’s post
continued. “I did not know that you were giving me the last
advice for our journey.”

Folly is the founder and executive president of the nonprofit
Light in the World Development Foundation, which seeks to
provide education and health care in Togo, a country of 8.6
million where more than 55% of people live in poverty.

Folly currently works as an attending physician at Saint Francis
Hospital in Tulsa, according to the group’s website.

“I am so sad to see you go without a goodbye,” Folly’s post
concluded. “Your work will continue. You will be missed. I love
you. See you in heaven one day.”

https://nypost.com/2022/06/02/tulsa-gunman-michael-louis- targeted-doctor-who-operated-on-him-cops/
 

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