Dr. Preston J. Phillips, a 59-year-old Black man and respected orthopedic surgeon, was tragically killed on June 1, 2022, during a mass shooting at the Natalie Medical Building on the campus of Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A man named Michael Louis, a former patient of Dr. Phillips, was identified as the shooter. The attack stemmed from Louis's anger over persistent pain following a back surgery performed by Dr.
Phillips in May of that year.
In the days leading up to the shooting, Louis had contacted the doctor's office multiple times to complain about his post-operative pain and to seek additional treatment. On the day of the attack, Louis legally purchased an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle just hours before heading to the hospital. He was also armed with a. 40-caliber pistol he had bought a few days earlier.
Upon arriving at the medical building, Louis began shooting, targeting Dr. Phillips. A letter found on Louis's body after the incident made his intentions clear, stating he had come to kill Dr. Phillips and anyone else who stood in his way. The shooting resulted in the deaths of Dr. Phillips, another physician, a receptionist, and a patient.
The Tulsa Police Department responded to the scene within minutes of the first 911 calls. As officers advanced toward the shooter's location on the second floor, they heard a final gunshot, which they believe was the sound of Louis taking his own life. The investigation confirmed that Michael Louis, the sole suspect, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, concluding the immediate search for any other individuals involved in the attack.
