DEADLY INTENT
Mass shooter in Tulsa, Oklahoma ‘kills 4 before turning gun on himself while targeting a DOCTOR’ at St Francis Hospital
A SHOOTER has killed four people and injured multiple others after reportedly targeting a doctor during a deadly gun rampage inside a hospital complex.
The gunman opened fire inside the Natalie Building at St Francis Hospital's Oklahoma complex in what was later described as a "catastrophic scene" before turning the gun on himself.
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Tulsa Deputy Police Chief Eric Dalgleish confirmed just after 7.20 pm local time that four people have died, and the shooter is also deceased. The shooter likely died by suicide, cops say.
Additionally, the Tulsa Police Department contacted Muskogee cops after the mass shooting within the Saint Francis Health System, saying there could be a bomb planted at a home.
Muskogee Police urged residents in the area to shelter in place and Lynn Hamlin, Muskogee PD PIO, later confirmed to a local CBS affiliate the bomb threat and shooting are connected.
No explosives were found at the home - however, the gun rampage in the St Francis complex left four people dead before the gunman shot himself, police told reporters during a press conference.
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Officials also confirmed that the building is now secure.
Dalgleish said police responded to calls of a man armed with a rifle at the Natalie Building within the hospital complex at 4.52 pm local time.
Officers arrived on the scene three minutes later and then made contact with the suspect and victims at 5.01 pm after hearing gunfire on the second floor.
They encountered the gunman, who police believe had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Dalgleish said.
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Witnesses are being interviewed and no officers were injured.
Dalgleish said investigators are working to identify the suspect, but they did say they're "getting close," noting that they believe the shooter to be a Black male between the ages of 35 and 45. They do not know if he was an employee of the health system.
The shooter had two weapons, a handgun, and a rifle, both of which appear to have been fired at the scene, Dalgleish said.
Dalgleish said the shooter was only active for about four or five minutes.
The motive for the shooting is not yet known.
He also added that one of the victims was found later on because that person was hiding in a locked closet.
'BUMPY ROAD AHEAD OF US'
Tulsa City Councilman Jayme Fowler told a local CBS affiliate that the gunman was seeking out a specific doctor.
A Tulsa police officer told FOX23 that two of the victims appeared to be a doctor and a nurse, but could not confirm official identities or titles.
Dr. Cliff Robertson, CEO of Saint Francis Health System, said in a press conference that there is a "bumpy road ahead of us."
There is "nothing more this community can do for us than pray," he said.
Robertson said there are over 10,000 workers who are part of the Saint Francis Health System. He said this "senseless, horrible, incomprehensible act" is not going to change the work of those people.
"I can't stand here and not thank the first responders," he said, adding "the response has been incredible."
"I don't know that I've truly understood how incredible our first responders can be every day."
The Saint Francis Hospital complex has multiple buildings including the Natalie Building and Warren Medical Building. The complex was placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon.
The Natalie Building, located at 6475 South Yale Avenue, is mostly used for sports medicine. It is connected to the Warren Building and the Kelly Building.
'CATASTROPHIC SCENE'
"We're treating this as a catastrophic scene right now," Tulsa Police Cpt. Richard Meulenberg told reporters earlier on Wednesday.
"We know there are multiple injuries, and potentially multiple casualties," Tulsa police said in a statement.
"We are doing a meticulous floor-by-floor, room-by-room search ... It's calmed down. We're trying to connect people and we're hoping not to find any victims," Meulenberg told ABC News.
The Tulsa Fire Department is also on the scene, along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and from the U.S. Marshals Service. The Joint Terrorism Task Force is also on the scene as of 8 pm local time.
Yale Avenue is shut down at this time. Residents are urged to avoid the area as the situation is ongoing.
A reunification site for families will be at Memorial High School on the west side of LaFortune Park, according to the Tulsa Police Department.
'THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE VICTIMS'
In the press conference, Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum said, "Right now my thoughts are with the victims in here."
President Biden has also been briefed on the situation.
“The White House is closely monitoring the situation and has reached out to state and local officials to offer support," a statement reads.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt released a statement, saying, "What happened today in Tulsa is a senseless act of violence and hatred. Sarah and I are praying for the families of those who lost their lives and for those who were injured."
"I am grateful for the quick and brave actions of the Tulsa Police Department and other first responders who did their best to contain a terrible situation.
"I have offered Mayor G.T. Bynum any state resources that may be needed, and I ask all Oklahomans to come together in support of the Saint Francis Health System community and to grieve with those whose lives have been forever changed."
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State Representative Kevin Hern released a statement, saying, "My prayers are with those who lost loved ones tonight, and with the entire Tulsa community as we recover from this tragedy. I am thankful for our law enforcement officers who responded quickly.”
Tulsa Police just days ago that Apprentice Police Officers were undergoing active shooter training at a local school.
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