The alleged Colorado Planned Parenthood shooter flew into a series of wild outbursts during his trial Wednesday, yelling, “I am guilty. There is no trial. I am a warrior for the babies.”
In another outburst at his first physical appearance in court since Nov. 27, accused shooter 57-year-old Robert L. Dear said, “Protect the babies,” CNN reports.
Dear was charged with 179 counts, including first-degree murder, for killing three people—a police officer and two civilians—at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood. Nine were also wounded. Police finally arrested him following a standoff, which lasted for hours.
If convicted, Dear faces life in prison or a death sentence. District Attorney Dan May hasn’t decided whether to push for the death penalty and added that he’s in discussion with officials about federal charges.
Investigators haven’t listed any motive yet, though many on both the left and right have referred to the attacks as an act of domestic terrorism. Dear’s ex-wife said he’s known for extreme antigovernment views. According to a man who lived close to Dear back in North Carolina, Dear would often avoid eye contact during conversations and would ramble incoherently on topics that didn’t make any sense.
“What he did is domestic terrorism, and what he did is absolutely abominable — especially to us in the pro-life movement, because there’s nothing about any of us that would condone or in any way look the other way on something like this,” presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said.
Dear has a long criminal history, including a charge for being a peeping tom and a charge for animal cruelty. His ex-wife also accused him of domestic abuse.
Dear’s act of violence sparked national debate around gun control and abortion.
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