Two doctors, receptionist and patient named as victims in Tulsa mass shooting | NEWSRUX

Three hospital workers and one affected person have been recognized because the victims of the mass taking pictures on the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, southeast Oklahoma.

Tulsa Police Division Chief Wendell Franklin advised reporters at a press briefing on Thursday that two physicians and a Saint Francis Healthcare System receptionist had been among the many 4 individuals killed.

A affected person was among the many victims shot lifeless by suspect gunman Michael Lewis, who police discovered lifeless with self-inflicted wounds.

The 4 victims had been recognized as Dr Preston Phillips, Dr Stephanie Husen, receptionist Amanda Inexperienced, and William Love, the affected person.

Police Chief Franklin mentioned the gunman wished to kill Dr Phillips due to ache he was experiencing after latest again surgical procedure, and had bought an AR-15 type rifle hours earlier than the doctor was killed.

“On Could 19 Michael Lewis went for again surgical procedure” mentioned the police chief. “[He] known as a number of occasions over a number of days complaining of ache and wished extra therapy”.

He mentioned Mr Lewis went for follow-up therapy on 31 Could, and on “June 1 Mr Lewis known as Dr Phillips workplace once more and wanting extra help”.

“Now we all know via the assistance of our ATF and our gun tracing groups that on 2pm at June 1 he bought a semi automated rifle from a neighborhood gun retailer,” mentioned police. “That semi automated rifle was an AR-15 type rifle”.

Mr Franklin mentioned after officers discovered Mr Lewis’s. physique, “We discovered a letter on the suspect that he wished to kill Dr Phillips and would kill anybody that bought on his manner, he blamed Dr Phillips for the ache following his surgical procedure”.

Police mentioned earlier that the assault was not random and police advised reporters the gunman was “very particular” about his location – the second ground of the Natalie Medical Constructing on the Saint Francis Hospital Campus.

A minimum of two of the victims had been present in the identical room because the gunman, and native experiences mentioned one particular person was discovered wounded in a cabinet and later died whereas being taken to hospital.

In an earlier assertion, the healthcare system mentioned 4 “members of our household” had been killed and requested for prayers. Police had been in the meantime suggesting that each sufferers and docs had been among the many 4 killed.

“Saint Francis Well being System is grieving the lack of 4 members of our household,” the organisation mentioned in a press release seen by KTUL-TV and others. “Aa religion based mostly organisation, the one recourse we’ve got at this second is to hope whereas we navigate this tragedy.”

The healthcare system added: “Out of respect for the households, we’re not commenting on or releasing names of these misplaced or injured presently.”

The healthcare system added in its assertion: “We’re sincerely grateful for the fast response by the Tulsa Police Division, first responders and EMS companies. And, our deepest gratitude extends to the members of our personal Saint Francis household who cared for their very own throughout this incident.”