William Lee Love, 73, was killed on June 1, 2022, at the Natalie Building on the Saint Francis Hospital campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and his wife were at a doctor’s appointment when a gunman entered the clinic armed with an AR-15 style rifle and a handgun. Love, a retired Army First Sergeant who served 27 years and saw combat in Vietnam, positioned himself between his wife and the shooter’s line of fire and was fatally shot while protecting her.

The attacker, identified as Michael Louis, had targeted a specific doctor he blamed for ongoing pain after a recent back surgery. Two doctors, a receptionist and Love were killed before the gunman died by a self-inflicted wound; a letter on his body stated his intention to kill the doctor and anyone who intervened. Love’s family described him as a great-grandfather who sacrificed his life for the love of his life. The daughter of William Love later filed a wrongful death suit against the health system alleging the shooter’s dissatisfaction was known and preventive action was not taken.

If anyone has information about that day or about William’s life and service, please share what is known.