After entering the Planned Parenthood clinic, Dear engaged in a standoff with police that lasted several hours, authorities said. The standoff came to an end when police officers entered the building and began shouting at the suspect, according to Colorado Springs Lt. Catherine Buckley. It was then that officers got “him to surrender and he was taken into custody,” Buckley said.
The slain police officer was identified as Garrett Swasey. The other two victims haven’t been identified.
At least nine others were injured in the shooting.
Police haven’t released a motive for the shooting or said whether the Planned Parenthood clinic was the intended target.
Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette issued the following statement from President & CEO Stacy M. Cross on the developing situation at a Planned Parenthood health center in Colorado Springs, Colorado:
“Our top priority is the safety of our patients and staff. The situation in Colorado is tragic, and our hearts go out to everyone involved. Here in the Pacific Northwest and across the country, Planned Parenthood has strong security measures in place, works closely with law enforcement agencies and has a very strong safety record. Our health centers across Oregon and Southwest Washington are open and seeing patients this weekend under normal operating hours. For more on our services, hours and locations, go to PPCW.org.
“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.”