William Lee Love, a 73-year-old male, was at a doctor's appointment with his wife of more than 50 years at the Natalie Building on the Saint Francis Hospital campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 1, 2022. It was on this day that a gunman, later identified as Michael Louis, opened fire inside the medical facility. Having served 27 years in the U.S. Army, with a tour in Vietnam, Love's protective instincts took over.
Knowing his wife would not be able to run to safety, he positioned himself between her and the bullets coming through a door, ultimately sacrificing his life to save hers. He was a retired Army First Sergeant.
The gunman had a specific target: one of the doctors at the clinic whom he blamed for ongoing pain following a recent back surgery. Armed with an AR-15 style rifle purchased just hours before the attack and a handgun, the shooter killed two doctors, a receptionist, and William Love. In the aftermath, investigators found a letter on the gunman's body that made it clear he intended to kill the doctor and anyone who stood in his way.
The tragic event claimed a total of four innocent lives before the gunman took his own. William Love was remembered as a hero who, in his final moments, lived up to the oath he had taken long ago to protect others. His family described him as a great-grandfather who died protecting the love of his life. The shooting sent shockwaves through the Tulsa community, prompting an outpouring of support for the victims' families. The gunman, Michael Louis, had no prior criminal record, and the investigation concluded that his motive was revenge for the post-surgery pain he was experiencing. Following the shooting, the daughter of William Love filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the health system, alleging they were aware of the gunman's dissatisfaction and failed to take necessary actions to prevent the violence.
