3 Dead, 9 Injured In A Shooting At Colorado Planned Parenthood; Police Authorities Arrested Suspected Gunman
Two civilians and a police officer were killed after a shooting took place at Colorado Planned Parenthood on Friday. BBC noted on the same day that nine people gained injuries after the five-hour standoff.
Several people were trapped inside the family planning clinic during the confrontation between the gunman and the police authorities.
A law enforcement official told CNN on Friday that the suspected gunman is a certain Robert Lewis Dear. However, the official did not provide more details about the alleged suspect.
"We don't have any information on this individual's mentality, or his ideas or ideology," Colorado Springs police Lt. Catherine Buckley tells reporters.
The 59-year-old suspected gunman is now under the custody of the police authorities, who are investigating the motive behind the shooting.
"I want to convey to the loved ones of the victims, this is a terrible, terrible tragedy that occurred here in Colorado Springs today," Colorado Mayor John Suthers says during a press conference.
He continues, "Obviously, we lost two civilian victims. We mourn the loss of a very brave police officer."
The slain police man was identified as Garrett Swasey, while no direct details were released regarding the two civilians who were killed during the attack.
"Certainly it could have been much, much worse if it were not for the heroism of our police officers to corner the person in the building," Colorado Springs Fire Chief Chris Riley says, as noted by ABC News Friday.
Although the motive of the attack remained vague as of the moment, Colorado Planned Parenthood's president and CEO Vicki Cowart said a "poisonous environment that feeds domestic terrorism" could be the reason of the shooting.
"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," she says in a dispatch.
Cowart goes on, "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."
