Robert Dear, the man accused of a deadly shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic in 2015, has died while in federal custody, as confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The 67-year-old passed away from natural causes on Saturday at a medical facility for federal inmates in Springfield, Missouri, according to information provided to The Associated Press.
In 2019, Dear faced charges in federal court, but the legal proceedings were complicated by disputes over whether he could be forcibly medicated for his mental illness, specifically a delusional disorder. Repeated findings of incompetence to stand trial had delayed his prosecution for the violent incident that took place in Colorado Springs.
As outlined in the 2019 indictment, Dear arrived at the Planned Parenthood clinic on November 27, 2015, with the intention of launching a ‘war’ due to the clinic’s abortion services. The Justice Department reported that he was armed with four SKS rifles, five handguns, two additional rifles, a shotgun, over 500 rounds of ammunition, and propane tanks.
During a court appearance on December 9, 2015, in Colorado Springs, Dear addressed Judge Gilbert Martinez. This image was captured by Andy Cross-Pool/Getty Images.
Initially, Dear opened fire on individuals parked beside his vehicle, resulting in one death and serious injuries to two others. He continued his assault by shooting at three more people positioned near the clinic, killing one and injuring another.
“After forcing his way into the clinic, Dear engaged in an approximately five-hour standoff with officials from several law enforcement and public safety agencies, including the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO), University of Colorado — Colorado Springs Campus Police (UCCS), and the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Dear repeatedly shot at the firefighters and law enforcement officers, killing one officer and injuring four more,” the Justice Department also said.
Authorities investigate a shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic Nov. 28, 2015. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Ke’Arre Stewart, 29, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and a father of two, and Jennifer Markovsky, 36, a mother of two who grew up in Oahu, Hawaii, were accompanying friends to the clinic before they were killed. Garrett Swasey, a campus police officer at a college nearby, responded after hearing of an active shooter and was also killed. Nine others were injured.
Dear was most recently civilly committed with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, according to 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael J. Allen, whose office tried to prosecute Dear in state court.
Robert Dear, accused of shooting three people to death and wounding nine others at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, attends a hearing at an El Paso County court in Colorado Springs, Colo., Dec. 9, 2015. (Andy Cross/Reuters)
“All three victims, and this community, deserved the full measure of justice in this case, but they are now denied that possibility,” Allen was quoted by the AP as saying.
