COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The man accused of opening fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs is making his first appearance in court.
57-year-old Robert Lewis Dear is accused of killing three people, including a police officer, on Friday. The shootout lasted several hours and also left nine other people in the hospital.
Colorado Springs authorities said Sunday that they wouldn’t talk about a possible motive for the attack, leaving such details to the court proceedings and fueling speculation over the attacker’s intentions.
U.S. Attorney John Walsh says officials could pursue federal charges in addition to state homicide ones. He says investigators have been in touch with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security divisions.
The court appearance will be done by video Monday afternoon in Colorado Springs.
