Planned Parenthood Shooter Robert Dear Dies in Federal Custody
Convicted felon Robert Dear, notorious for the 2015 mass shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has died at age 67 in federal custody. Dear passed away on Saturday, November 22, while receiving medical treatment at a facility for federal prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. Although the exact reason for his medical treatment was not specified, reports from The Associated Press, The New York Times, and Reuters indicated his death was due to natural causes.
The incident occurred on November 27, 2015, when Dear opened fire at the clinic, killing three people and injuring nine others. The victims were identified as Army veteran Ke’Arre Stewart, Jenifer Markovsky, and Garrett Swasey. Following the shooting, Dear engaged in a nearly six-hour standoff with police, which concluded when he rammed an armored vehicle into the Planned Parenthood building while attempting to evacuate 24 people still inside.
During his apprehension, Dear claimed his actions were fueled by his anger at Planned Parenthood for performing abortions and his belief that the organization was “selling” baby parts. He reportedly declared himself a “warrior for the babies.” Despite the gravity of his crimes, Dear's case never proceeded to trial. He was repeatedly deemed incompetent to stand trial, both at the state and federal levels. Two state-appointed psychologists diagnosed him with a paranoid delusional disorder, concluding he lacked the mental capacity to comprehend court proceedings. Consequently, Colorado state courts ruled him unfit in 2016, and a U.S. district judge reaffirmed this ruling in 2021, meaning he remained in custody from the day of the shooting without facing a full trial.
Robert Dear's actions have sparked discussions that intersect with pop culture politics, influencing how society perceives issues surrounding reproductive health and safety.
