January 1, Tulsa Gunman ‘Blamed’ Doctor for Pain

The gunman who fatally shot four people at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, targeted a doctor who performed back surgery on him last month, according to police.

Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said that Dr. Preston Phillips had performed back surgery on the shooter on May 19, and he repeatedly complained about being in pain in the days after he was released on May 24.

Franklin said the shooter underwent additional treatment at the hospital on May 31 but still complained about pain, which he “blamed” Phillips for.

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

The gunman purchased the AR-15-style rifle at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and entered St. Francis Hospital less than three hours later. He opened fire, killing Phillips, Dr. Stephanie Husen, receptionist Amanda Glenn, and patient William Love.

The shooter had a letter on him “which made it clear that he came in with the intent to kill Dr. Phillips and anyone who got in his way.”

Franklin said the gunman entered through a second-floor door from the parking garage. As soon as he entered the building, “he began firing at anyone that was in his way.”

The chief said the shooter died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound as officers moved toward the second floor.

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Tulsa gunman bought AR-15-style rifle hours before using it to kill his former doctor, 3 others