Police have identified the gunman who shot and killed two civilians and a police officer and injured nine others at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs on Friday as Robert Lewis Dear. They also released a booking photo:
Suspect confirmed as Robert L. Dear date of birth of 4/16/1958 pic.twitter.com/4v2GtIsUgT
— Colorado Springs Police Department (@CSPDPIO) November 28, 2015
Dear’s motives are still unknown at this time.
Vicki Cowart, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, released a statement following the shootings:
“Our top priority is the safety of our patients and staff. Our hearts go out to everyone involved in this tragic situation. Planned Parenthood has strong security measures in place, works closely with law enforcement agencies, and has a very strong safety record. We don’t yet know the full circumstances and motives behind this criminal action, and we don’t yet know if Planned Parenthood was in fact the target of this attack. We share the concerns of many Americans that extremists are creating a poisonous environment that feeds domestic terrorism in this country. We will never back away from providing care in a safe, supportive environment that millions of people rely on and trust.”
The slain officer is 44-year-old Garrett Swasey, who worked for the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. The civilians killed have not yet been identified.
