Tessa Quinn
On June 1, 2022, Michael Louis opened fire in the Natalie Building, part of the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing four people and injuring several others before committing suicide. This incident brought to light the alarming levels of violence faced by healthcare workers, with many physicians expressing their sorrow and concern over the increasing threats by patients. In another incident in August 2025, a suspect shot and killed a 72-year-old public safety officer, J.W. Bode, at Integris Health Hospital in Enid, Oklahoma, before being fatally shot by the police.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Michael Louis (also known as Michelet Louis) |
| Age | 45 |
| Location | Natalie Building, Saint Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Date | June 1, 2022 |
| Victims | Dr. Preston Phillips, Dr. Stephanie Husen, Amanda Glenn, William Love |
| Weapons | Semi-automatic pistol, AR-15-style firearm |
| Number of casings found | 37 |
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What You'll Learn
- The shooter was 45-year-old Michael Louis, also known as Michelet Louis
- Louis was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15-style firearm
- Four people were killed, including three hospital staff members
- The shooting was described as a deliberate attack
- A study by National Nurses United highlights the increasing violence faced by healthcare workers
The shooter was 45-year-old Michael Louis, also known as Michelet Louis
On June 1, 2022, 45-year-old Michael Louis, also known as Michelet Louis, opened fire in the Natalie Building, part of the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He killed four people, three of whom were hospital staff, and injured several others before taking his own life. The Tulsa Police Department confirmed just before 5:00 p.m. CDT that the shooter died by suicide, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The victims included two physicians, Dr. Preston Phillips and Dr. Stephanie Husen, a receptionist, Amanda Glenn, and the husband of a patient, William Love. Captain Richard Meulenberg of the Tulsa Police Department described the attack as deliberate, stating that Louis had specifically chosen the hospital as his target.
Louis was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15-style firearm, purchased just days before the shooting. He had entered the building through a second-floor entrance from the parking garage that was open to the public. Law enforcement received a call about an active shooter at 4:56 p.m., and responding officers heard shots as they moved towards the second floor. The last shot was believed to have been fired around 4:58 p.m., with officers hearing the final gunshot as they approached Louis's location.
The Tulsa hospital shooting highlighted an alarming trend of increasing violence faced by healthcare workers across the country. A study by National Nurses United reported numerous "acts of assault, battery, aggression, and threats of violence" in healthcare settings, underscoring the critical need for enhanced security measures and workplace violence prevention plans in hospitals and medical facilities.
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Louis was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15-style firearm
On June 1, 2022, Michael Louis opened fire in the Natalie Building, part of the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Louis killed four people and injured several others before taking his own life. Law enforcement believes the last shot heard was the self-inflicted gunshot wound that killed Louis.
The Tulsa shooting brought to light the issue of violence against healthcare workers. A study by National Nurses United revealed a "frightening trend" of increasing violence faced by healthcare workers in the United States. This violence includes countless acts of assault, battery, aggression, and threats of violence within healthcare settings.
Michael Louis was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15-style firearm. These weapons were purchased on May 29 and June 1, respectively, just days before the shooting. Louis entered the hospital through a second-floor entrance from the parking garage that was accessible to the public. He opened fire on the building's second floor, in an orthopedic facility, targeting both staff members and patients.
The AR-15-style rifle is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle based on the Colt AR-15 design. AR-15-style firearms have been used in several mass shootings due to their high rate of fire and capacity for large-caliber magazines. The ease of modification and customization of these firearms also makes them appealing to mass shooters.
The availability and use of semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines have been linked to increased rates of gun violence and mass shootings. The AR-15-style rifle used by Louis in the Tulsa hospital shooting is a prime example of the accessibility of these weapons and the devastating impact they can have when used with malicious intent.
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Four people were killed, including three hospital staff members
On June 1, 2022, 45-year-old Michael Louis opened fire in the Natalie Building, part of the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four people were killed, and an unspecified number were injured. Three of the four victims were hospital staff members: Dr. Preston Phillips, Dr. Stephanie Husen, and receptionist Amanda Glenn. The fourth victim was the husband of a patient, William Love.
Louis entered the building through a second-floor entrance from the parking garage that was open to the public. The shooting occurred on the building's second floor, in the orthopedic facility, with victims including both staff members and patients. Law enforcement received a call about a person with a firearm in the building at around 4:56 p.m. Responding officers heard shots as they moved towards the second floor and believed the last shot was fired around 4:58 p.m. As they approached the shooter's location, calling out "Tulsa police", they heard the final gunshot—the shooter had died by suicide.
The Tulsa Police Department notified the Muskogee Police Department of a potential bomb in a residential area in Muskogee. A total of 37 spent bullet casings were found at the crime scene, and Louis was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15-style firearm, purchased on May 29 and June 1, respectively. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt called the shooting "a senseless act of violence and hatred." Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum expressed gratitude for the "broad range of first responders" who acted swiftly.
This incident in Tulsa is not an isolated case of violence in healthcare settings. A study by National Nurses United raised concerns about the increasing trend of violence faced by healthcare workers across the country, including countless acts of assault, battery, aggression, and threats of violence.
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The shooting was described as a deliberate attack
On June 1, 2022, Michael Louis opened fire in the Natalie Building, part of the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four people were killed, and an unspecified number were injured. The victims included three hospital staff members and a patient. Louis entered the building through a second-floor entrance from the parking garage that was open to the public. He was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and an AR-15-style firearm.
The incident has brought to light the concerning issue of increasing violence faced by healthcare workers across the country. A study by National Nurses United revealed that assaults, battery, aggression, and threats of violence against healthcare workers in their workplaces have become a frightening trend. This trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
In addition to the Tulsa hospital shooting, Oklahoma experienced another tragic hospital shooting in Enid in 2025. In this incident, a suspect shot and killed a 72-year-old public safety officer, J.W. Bode, at Integris Health Hospital. The suspect was then fatally shot by the police. The authorities stated that the violence stemmed from a possible domestic dispute at a nearby residence before escalating at the hospital.
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A study by National Nurses United highlights the increasing violence faced by healthcare workers
On June 1, 2022, Michael Louis opened fire in the Natalie Building, part of the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing four people and injuring several others before committing suicide. Three of the victims were hospital staff: Dr. Preston Phillips, Dr. Stephanie Husen, and receptionist Amanda Glenn. The fourth victim was William Love, the husband of a patient.
This tragic incident highlights the issue of violence against healthcare workers, an issue that has been increasingly prevalent in recent years. A study by National Nurses United found that a majority of nurses have experienced workplace violence, with 81.6% reporting at least one type of workplace violence incident in 2023. Additionally, nearly half of the nurses surveyed observed an increase in violence rates in the same year. The three most common types of violence experienced were verbal threats (67.8%), physical threats (38.7%), and being pinched or scratched (37.3%).
The study also highlighted the impact of this violence on healthcare workers' mental health and job satisfaction. The stress, burnout, and fear caused by these incidents have led to increased job dissatisfaction and turnover among healthcare workers, including surgeons. In fact, 6 out of 10 nurses reported considering leaving their jobs or profession due to workplace violence. Unfortunately, short staffing resulting from high turnover rates further exacerbates the issue, as it increases wait times, unmet patient needs, and the stress and moral distress of healthcare staff, creating a cycle that intensifies the risk of violence.
Furthermore, the study brought attention to the lack of effective prevention strategies and the need for better reporting mechanisms. Many nurses expressed that they often do not report incidents due to unclear reporting processes, fear of employer retaliation, and the perspective that violence is an inherent part of the job. To address this issue, federal bills such as the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (S. 1176/H.R. 2663) have been proposed to mandate the creation and implementation of workplace violence prevention plans in the healthcare industry.
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Frequently asked questions
The shooter was identified as 45-year-old Michael Louis (also known as Michelet Louis) of Muskogee.
The shooting took place at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Four people were killed, including the shooter, and an unspecified number were injured.
The victims were Dr. Preston Phillips, Dr. Stephanie Husen, receptionist Amanda Glenn, and the husband of a patient, William Love.
The attack was described as deliberate, but the specific motive is unknown.
