Oklahoma Mass Shooting: Gunman Kills 4 'Civilians' at Tulsa Hospital Before He Commits Suicide
A shooting at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Wednesday afternoon left five people dead, including the gunman, police said.
According to KETK, police received a call that there was an "active shooter" at the Natalie building of Saint Francis Hospital at around 4:52 p.m.
Officers reportedly arrived at the scene after four minutes, and they heard gunshots upon arrival. Crime Online reported that police made contact with the victims and the suspect at around 5:01 p.m.
Tulsa Police Deputy Chief Eric Dalgleish said the police officers were drawn to the second floor by the sound of gunshots.
"We have four civilians dead, and one shooter dead. Right now, we believe that is self-inflicted," Dalgleish noted.
According to police, investigators have not yet identified the gunman, but he was a Black male who is likely 35 to 40 years old. Police believed that he had used a rifle and a handgun.
Tulsa Police Capt. Richard Meulenberg said that "multiple people" were wounded but did not specify the number of those injured. Authorities reportedly checked every room in the Natalie building for any additional threats.
Dalgleish said witnesses were interviewed before being taken to a reunification center in a nearby Tulsa high school. The motive for the deadly shooting was still unclear as of Wednesday evening.
However, Meulenberg said the shooting was not random. He noted that the gunman "deliberately made a choice to come here and his actions were deliberate," the New York Times reported.
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Possible Bomb Threat After Tulsa Shooting in Oklahoma
Tulsa police have linked a possible bomb threat in Muskogee, about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa, to the shooting in Saint Francis Hospital. They asked police in Muskogee to investigate a home for a possible bomb.
Muskogee police department spokesperson Lynn Hamlin said they went to 3325 Park Place North "in reference to a possible bomb inside," the Independent reported.
"At this time, we have evacuated the house and have notified everyone in the area to stay inside their homes," Hamlin noted.
Authorities reportedly cleared the bomb threat in the Muskogee neighborhood after the Oklahoma High Patrol bomb squad confirmed not finding any explosive device inside the house believed to belong to the Tulsa shooter.
The White House said President Joe Biden had already been briefed about the shooting in Tulsa.
"The White House is closely monitoring the situation and has reached out to state and local officials to offer support," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Oklahoma Officials on the Tulsa Shooting
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt called the tragedy a "senseless act of violence and hatred. He said he and his wife "are praying for the families of those who lost their lives and those who were injured."
Stitt noted that he had offered Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum any state resources that may be needed. Oklahoma Senator James Lankford said he was heartbroken after hearing the devastating news.
"We are praying for the families of the lives taken far too soon and for a full recovery for those injured today. It is hard to process the anger that motivates someone to commit such violence, especially at a place that provides care and healing," Lankford noted.
The senator said he was grateful for the quick reaction of law enforcement and first responders to prevent "any further loss of life."
Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum also expressed "profound gratitude" for the "broad range of first responders" who did not hesitate to respond to this act of violence.
The Tulsa shooting comes just days after a shooting at a Uvalde elementary school in Texas that left 21 dead. According to Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. has already reported 233 incidents of mass shootings this year, which means that about 46 shooting incidents happen each month.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Joshua Summers
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