Man to be charged with murder in Colorado clinic attack

Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting suspect Robert Dear, right, appears via video hearing during his first court appearance, where he was told he faces first-degree murder charges, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting suspect Robert Dear, right, appears via video hearing during his first court appearance, where he was told he faces first-degree murder charges, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The man accused of a deadly shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs was told Monday that he will be charged with first-degree murder in the killing of three people, including a police officer, during the standoff at the facility.

Speaking in a raspy voice, white-bearded suspect Robert Lewis Dear appeared via a video hookup from El Paso County Jail, where he has been held since surrendering to police after the five-hour siege Friday.

Dear wore a padded, white vest with black straps and gazed downward during most of the hearing. It was his first appearance in court in the case.

Dear responded "no questions" when asked by Chief District Judge Gilbert Martinez if he had any questions about his rights.

Public Defender Daniel King, who represented Colorado theater shooter James Holmes, stood beside Dear and will act as his counsel. Dear is expected to be formally charged Dec. 9.

Victims' relatives sat in the courtroom during the hearing.

Dear, 57, is accused of fatally shooting a university police officer who tried to stop the attack, an Iraq war veteran and a mother of two inside the clinic.

The rampage sent nine other people to a hospital.

Colorado Springs police have declined to disclose any information on a motive for the attack, and a judge ordered the sealing of investigatory court documents at the request of prosecutors.

A law enforcement official said Dear told authorities "no more baby parts" after being arrested.

The official said the comment was among a number of statements Dear made to authorities after his arrest, making it difficult to know his specific motivation.

The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not allowed to publicly discuss the ongoing investigation.

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Upcoming Events