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Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting: civilian victims remain unnamed Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting: civilian victims remain unnamed
(35 minutes later)
Colorado police said on Saturday they did not know if the two civilians who were killed in a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic had been patients at the women’s healthcare provider.Colorado police said on Saturday they did not know if the two civilians who were killed in a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic had been patients at the women’s healthcare provider.
Related: Obama urges gun control after Colorado Springs shooting: 'Enough is enough'Related: Obama urges gun control after Colorado Springs shooting: 'Enough is enough'
Three people, including one police officer, were killed and nine were injured on Friday during an hours-long standoff at a Colorado Springs clinic. Three people, including one police officer, were killed and nine were injured in an hours-long standoff at a Colorado Springs clinic on Friday that saw the surrounding area placed on lockdown and many people sheltering in place.
The policeman who was killed was identified on Friday night as Garrett Swasey, a 44-year-old father of two. He worked as a police officer at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and was there when he was called to assist with an active shooter at the nearby clinic. The policeman who was killed was identified on Friday night as Garrett Swasey, a 44-year-old father of two.
Planned Parenthood has said that the 15 staff members in the building at the time of the shooting were unharmed. Planned Parenthood has said that the 15 staff members in the building at the time of the shooting were unharmed. Colorado Springs police chief Pete Carey was asked at a press conference on Saturday if in that light he could confirm the two civilians killed had been patients.
Colorado Springs police chief Pete Carey was asked at a press conference on Saturday if he could confirm the two civilians had been patients.
“I frankly just don’t know at this point, I’m sorry,” he said.“I frankly just don’t know at this point, I’m sorry,” he said.
Carey said that he expected the names of the victims to be released early on Monday, after autopsies are complete. Carey said he expected the names of the victims to be released early on Monday, after autopsies are complete.
Authorities did release the name of the suspected gunman. He is Robert Lewis Dear, aged 57 and from North Carolina, though an address in Colorado was also being searched. Officer Swasey had worked as a police officer at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs for six years and was there when he was called to the scene of the clinic shooting.
No motive had been established for the shooting, although an emotive debate welled up immediately, given Planned Parenthood’s role within its broader women’s healthcare provision as a provider of abortions. Swasey was from Massachusetts. His father, John Swasey, told the Boston Globe: “He was a great dad. I mean, a super dad. Everybody in the police department loved him. Anybody who ever met him loved him. He was a great guy, a great person.”
Colorado Springs mayor John Suthers told reporters people could make “inferences from where it took place”. Carey said the five officers who were injured in the attack were alert and said he hoped most would be released from hospital on Saturday. Some of the civilians injured were released.
“I am absolutely blessed more officers weren’t killed yesterday,” Carey said.
Federal authorities were assisting with the investigation and officials said it was too early to determine a motive.
Authorities did release the name of the suspected gunman. He is Robert Lewis Dear, aged 57 and from North Carolina, though an address in Colorado was also being searched. He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Colorado Springs mayor John Suthers said security cameras in the clinic showed the gunman wearing a trenchcoat and carrying a rifle as he walked calmly through the building.
While the gunman’s motive has not been determined, Suthers suggested it was related to Planned Parenthood. He said that while investigators don’t know the motive, people could make “inferences from where [the shooting] took place”.
Threats and attacks against Planned Parenthood locations and abortion providers became a national issue after the supreme court’s Roe v Wade ruling in 1973 made access to abortion a nationwide right.
This year, the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress released videos that purportedly showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing taking money for fetal tissue. The videos angered Planned Parenthood opponents, prompting Republicans in Congress to push for legislation to defund the organization, which provides a wide range of women’s healthcare services, not just abortions.
On Saturday, Ketanya Craion told ABC that she was in an exam room when the shooting took place at the Colorado Springs facility, which was equipped with an extensive security system that included “safe rooms”.
“When I saw him shooting the guns, it looked like he was talking to himself as he was shooting,” said Craion.
She said she and other people in the clinic pushed an exam bed against a door and hid during the standoff.
Planned Parenthood said its 28 other regional health centers would remain open while Colorado Springs was closed for the investigation.
According to the Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains president and CEO, Vicki Cowart, the region’s facilities provide care – including cancer screens, STD tests and treatment, contraception and abortion – to 103,000 people in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wyoming each year.
“We share the concerns of many Americans that the continued attacks against abortion providers and patients, as well as law enforcement officers, is creating a poisonous environment that breeds acts of violence,” Cowart said.
“But we will never back away from providing critical health care to millions of people who rely on and trust us every day.”
In New York City, police officers remained stationed outside Planned Parenthood locations, despite no known threats being made.
Related: Our culture and laws enabled the Colorado shooter, whatever his motive | Lucia GravesRelated: Our culture and laws enabled the Colorado shooter, whatever his motive | Lucia Graves
On Saturday morning, President Obama issued a statement in which he expressed sympathy for the victims and the families of the dead and also considered the subject of gun control.On Saturday morning, President Obama issued a statement in which he expressed sympathy for the victims and the families of the dead and also considered the subject of gun control.
The president said the US had “to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them”.The president said the US had “to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them”.
“Period,” he added. “Enough is enough.”“Period,” he added. “Enough is enough.”
Police officials also said that they could not confirm whether the shooting began inside or outside the clinic because of the continuing investigation. Police officials also said that they could not confirm whether the shooting began inside or outside the clinic, because of the continuing investigation.