DEADLY ATTACK AT COLO. CLINIC
Planned Parenthood shooter kills cop, 2 others
A gunman holed up in a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic killed three people, including a police officer, and injured nine others before surrendering after a fivehour standoff Friday.
Robert Lewis Dear stormed into the Colorado Springs clinic and opened fire just before noon — keeping police at bay by shooting at them from inside.
The injured, all of whom were in stable condition, included five cops.
“This is a terrible tragedy,” Colorado Springs Mayor John Suther said at a press conference. “It could have been much worse but for the actions of the first responders.’’
The slain officer was identified as University of Colorado cop Garrett Swasey.
The 44yearold officer heard a report of an “active shooter’’ at about 11:50 a.m. local time and rushed to the clinic to aid city cops.
Swasey, who was married with two young children, was a copastor at the Hope Chapel in Colorado Springs, The New York Times reported.
“It’s not the first time that he’s been placed in harm’s way,” a copastor told the paper. “He’s an absolute man of courage.”
The identities of the slain civilians were not immediately known.
The gunman, who is in his late 50s, had brought items to the clinic that cops said may have been “explosive in nature.” His motive was not clear. “At this point, I have as many questions as you do,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey.
When officers finally got into the building, they shouted at the suspect. He then gave himself up, emerging from the clinic with his hands raised.
Before that, police had evacuated several people.
Planned Parenthood has been the target of increased threats in the wake of an undercover “sting” mounted by an antiabortion group, which filmed a video at a clinic in Denver, about 80 miles north.
The video appeared to show officials of the organization discussing the sale of fetal tissue.
At least four clinics have been targeted for arson since the video was released and there has been a push in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.
The president of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains released a defiant statement vowing not to cower in the face of constant attacks.
“We share the concerns of many Americans that extremists are creating a poisonous environment that feeds domestic terrorism in this country,” the statement from Vicki Cowart read.
“We will never back away from providing care in a safe, supportive environment that millions of people rely on and trust.”
She said the staff was able to hunker down in an “escape room” constructed inside the building in the event of attacks.
It’s not clear if the civilian victims include patients.