US

Planned Parenthood Shooter Could Face Death Penalty

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Font Size:

Robert Lewis Dear will be charged Wednesday for killing three people while shooting up a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs.

Dear attacked the clinic Nov. 27 before getting into a shootout with police. He killed officer Garrett Swasey and two bystanders. Prosecutors intend to charge Dear with first-degree murder, according to CNN. He could get life in prison or be put to death if convicted. An additional nine people were wounded in the incident.

It is not yet known what motivated Dear to attack the clinic. According to law enforcement, however, he did mentioned baby parts in an apparent reference to the recent Planned Parenthood controversy.  The issue began July 14 with the release of a video showing Dr. Deborah Nucatola, a senior director for Planned Parenthood, discussing how the organization harvests fetus organs after an abortion.

The footage was obtained by the Center for Medical Progress as part of a three-year investigative effort. Nucatola talks to undercover actors she thinks are buyers from a human biologics company. After the shooting, Dear also expressed anti-abortion and anti-government views.

The first video is followed by others. They renewed calls to defund the organization, primarily among Republicans. Supporters, though, are just at adamant about defending the organization. They argue Planned Parenthood does a lot of good, especially for women, and the videos are altered and misleading.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has since called the attack a crime against women, according to USA Today. It also united Planned Parenthood Chief Experience Officer Dawn Laguens and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. The two have both called the incident domestic terrorism. Huckabee expressed opposition to federal funds going to Planned Parenthood and abortion.

Follow Connor on Twitter

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.