A gunman has killed at least three people after opening fire on a family planning clinic in the US state of Colorado. The suspect was later
ADVERTISEMENTA gunman has killed at least three people after opening fire on a family planning clinic in the US state of Colorado.
The suspect was later arrested.
A police source with direct knowledge of the case has named the attacker as Robert Lewis Dear. He’s thought to be in his late fifties and is said to hail from North Carolina.
The victims
One of the victims of the hours-long standoff at the Planned Parenthood Clinic is 44-year-old police officer Garret Swasey.
His force (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs) said he went to the scene of the shootings in Colorado Springs to support local police there. Two civilians were also killed.
At least nine people were wounded in the assault, among them five police officers, according to local authorities.
All those who sustained injuries are believed to be in good condition.
Eyewitness account
Ozy Licano witnessed the incident.
“I tried to get out of my car and run, then I thought about that and said “no”. I got back in the car started it, put in reverse, started backing out, and he was in front of me and he was aiming at me,” he said. “I just hit the gas and he started shooting and I was looking at his face.”
Protests outside the clinic
Anti-abortion activists have repeatedly targeted the Colorado Springs clinic with protests.
The facility is part of a national not-for-profit group, which runs hundreds of centres across America.