At least four people have been killed after a gunman crashed inside a U.S. hospital, leaving a “catastrophic” scene.
At least four people have been killed after a gunman shot dead inside a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday night.
Tulsa police responded Wednesday afternoon to a gunman’s report in the Natalie Medical Building at Saint Francis Hospital.
The call then became an active shooter situation.
A Tulsa police officer who had been inside told local channel FOX23 that the shooting took place on a lower floor.
Two of the victims appeared to be dressed as doctors and nurses, but their official titles were not yet known.
Tulsa City Councilor Jayme Fowler told the media that the shooter was looking for a specific doctor.
“From what we understand, we believe the shooter was looking for a particular doctor, that couldn’t happen, so he took the lives of innocent people,” he told CNBC.
Fowler told News On 6: “Our thoughts and prayers go to these three victims and our police force has been trained, prepared for this and could have been even worse.”
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Fowler said the shooter committed suicide.
“We now have five dead, including the shooter, in the situation of the active shooter in the Natalie building on the campus of St. Francis Hospital,” Tulsa police wrote in a Twitter update.
Police had initially confirmed three casualties, in addition to the shooter’s death.
At a news conference, Tulsa Deputy Chief of Police Eric Dalgleish told reporters that the suspect was a black man between the ages of 35 and 40.
He was armed with a rifle and a pistol, and was not believed to be wearing any armor during the shooting.
Dalgleish confirmed that the suspect had committed suicide.
It was not immediately known how many people were injured or in what condition.
The victims “could have been employees and visitors to the hospital,” Dalgleish said. One victim was later locked in a closet while police searched the building room by room.
Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum described the hospital as a “sacred cause for the community,” supporting the city during the Covid-19 pandemic for the past two and a half years.
“This has been one more facility than any other that has worked to save the life of this city,” Bynum said.
He offered “deep gratitude” to lifeguards who “have not hesitated today to respond to this act of violence.”
The Natalie Medical Building is primarily used for sports medicine and orthopedic surgery.
Police said earlier that “multiple” people were injured and “some, unfortunately, died.”
They described the scene inside as “catastrophic,” KTUL reported.
The White House said President Joe Biden had been informed of the shooting.
“The White House is closely monitoring the situation and has contacted state and local officials to provide support,” a spokesman said.
The shooting comes just a week after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 fourth graders and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
– with NY Post