COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (FOX21/AP) — An active shooter situation in western Colorado Springs has ended, according to Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers. Suthers has confirmed that the shooting suspect is in police custody.The incident was first reported around 11:45 a.m. Friday.
A law enforcement official says the gunman in an attack at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs has been identified as Robert Lewis Dear.
The official, who has direct knowledge of the case, said the shooter is from North Carolina. No other details were immediately available. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation.
The gunman was taken into custody after an hours-long standoff and shootout. Authorities say they haven’t determined a motive or whether the shooter had any connection to Planned Parenthood.
Police say three people are dead after a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. Those who died Friday include two civilians and one police officer from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
The officer killed in the Planned Parenthood clinic shootings in Colorado Springs has been identified as 44-year-old Garrett Swasey.
Swasey, a six-year veteran of the department, was a member of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Police Department. The university says Swasey had gone to the clinic to support Colorado Springs police after he learned of the shooting.
Five other officers were wounded.
The university is about 10 minutes away from the clinic and officials say the fallen officer responded to help city police with the shooting.
Mayor John Suthers says the community “mourns the loss of a very brave police officer.”
Nine other people are hospitalized and police say there are in good condition.
Police said they encountered gunfire as they searched for a gunman at a shooting scene near a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs.
“We don’t yet know the full circumstances and motives behind this criminal action, and we don’t yet know if Planned Parenthood was, in fact, the target of this attack.”
Police previously said the gunman had been contained, but later said they were still searching for the person.
Planned Parenthood says it is concerned for the safety of its patients and staff after a gunman opened fire at one of the organization’s offices in Colorado Springs.
Vicki Cowart, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains, said: “We don’t yet know the full circumstances and motives behind this criminal action, and we don’t yet know if Planned Parenthood was, in fact, the target of this attack.”
Police Lt. Catherine Buckley said Friday that authorities do not have information on the gunman’s “mentality, or his ideas or ideology.”
At a 6 p.m. press conference, Colorado Springs PD Lt. Catherine Buckley said the following:
“We have not even confirmed the name to the suspect. We are in contact with him because he’s shot at our officers.
“We are working with the staff at the Planned Parenthood building to identify people [and where they were] and get them out of the building safely. We have been working to actively evacuate people from the [Planned Parenthood] building.
“Our first concern as officers is that the public is safe,” Lt. Buckley said, adding, “We are doing are a job and we’re trying to make sure that the public is safe. At this point, we have one suspect, obviously, we’ll look for additional suspects.”
Buckley also provided additional details:
- Four officers injured, could be a fifth officer. There is an unknown number of civilian casualties.
- The suspect brought bags and other items into the Planned Parenthood building with him. They need to be checked out before police can begin a thorough investigation.
- There is an unknown number of casualties. Started at the Planned Parenthood building, victims left and went to a bank nearby. The suspect did not enter any other buildings. He is still in the Planned Parenthood building.
- Agencies across the region are assisting with the investigation including officers from the University of Colorado Springs and FBI.
- Friday was an active, open day for the Planned Parenthood.
- There were staff and patients with appointments in the building when the suspect entered.
- The situation is still active at this time.
It’s unclear what type of weapon the suspect is armed with. According to initial reports, it was some type of a “long gun,” according to Buckley.
Police Lt. Catherine Buckley says civilians and four officers were wounded in the shooting.
Joan Motolinia said his sister, Jennifer, called him while she was hiding behind a table inside a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic as a gunman was shooting inside the building.
He said he heard a lot of gunshots Friday in the background.
“She was telling me to take care of her babies because she could get killed,” Motolinia said of the mother of three.
Motolinia rushed to the clinic after getting off the phone and was frustrated because a police barricade kept him from getting close to the building.
“People were shooting for sure. I heard someone shooting. There was a lot of gunfire. She was calm she was trying to hide from those people,” he said.
Police say that 11 people, including five officers, have been transported to area hospitals. Authorities do not have any further details on those wounded or whether there had been any fatalities in the attack.
Officials at Penrose Hospital say six victims have been taken to the emergency room there. They said all of the victims have gunshot wounds, but there’s not word on the severity of the injuries. The ER is on lockdown.
Officials at Memorial Hospital say three victims have been taking to their emergency room. It’s unknown whether any of these victims are police officers.
Police tell FOX21 at least four officers have been injured — it’s not known if anyone else has been wounded. There are at least eight ambulances waiting at an intersection near the clinic and a nearby shopping center.
A witness says she heard as many as 20 shots in less than five minutes and saw an officer fall to the ground Friday during the shooting. Denise Speller, a manager of a nearby haircut salon, told The Gazette of Colorado Springs that she saw another officer kneel down to render aid to the officer who fell.
Residents are urged to avoid the area.
White House officials say President Barack Obama has been notified about the active shooter situation.
Gov. John Hickenlooper released the following statement about the situation:
“We hold the Colorado Springs community in our thoughts and prayers. The bravery and courage of local law enforcement officers have prevented a dire situation from being far worse, and we are all grateful. We are in contact with Mayor Suthers. All state Public Safety resources are at the ready, if and when needed.”
Mayor John Suthers’ office released the following statement:
“Mayor is on scene working with Incident Command, and has been for several hours. He is fully engaged with the situation. He will make a statement to the press after the scene is stabilized, but at this time, the appropriate communications are coming from the appropriate agencies.
The Mayor would like to remind citizens to avoid the impacted area to allow law enforcement and emergency responders to function as efficiently as possible.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
