Robert Lewis Dear, the man responsible for the deadly 2015 shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, has died in prison. He was 59 years old.
The Fatal Attack That Shook Colorado
On November 27, 2015, Dear launched a violent attack on the Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs that would last for five terrifying hours. The shooting resulted in three fatalities and nine injuries, creating chaos and fear throughout the community.
The victims who lost their lives in this tragic incident included Ke'Arre Stewart, a 29-year-old Army veteran; Jennifer Markovsky, a 35-year-old mother of two; and University of Colorado Colorado Springs police officer Garrett Swasey, aged 44. Officer Swasey had responded to assist local police during the active shooter situation when he was fatally wounded.
Legal Proceedings and Prison Death
Dear was found mentally incompetent to stand trial on multiple occasions since his arrest. Despite this determination regarding his mental state, he remained in custody at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, where he was being held for Colorado Department of Corrections.
The Colorado Department of Corrections confirmed that Dear died on June 14, 2024 while incarcerated. Preliminary information from prison authorities indicates he died from natural causes, though official confirmation is pending completion of an autopsy.
During various court appearances, Dear had made numerous outbursts, often referencing his anti-abortion views and claiming himself to be a "warrior for the babies." His statements revealed the motivation behind his attack on the reproductive health facility.
Lasting Impact and Community Response
The 2015 shooting represented one of the most violent attacks on a reproductive health clinic in recent American history. The incident sparked nationwide debates about clinic security, abortion rights, and political violence.
Planned Parenthood officials had consistently emphasized that the majority of their services involve general healthcare rather than abortion procedures. The organization provides essential health services including cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and contraception to millions of patients annually.
The Colorado Springs community remembered the victims in the years following the attack, with memorials honoring Officer Swasey's heroic response and the tragic deaths of Stewart and Markovsky. The shooting left permanent scars on the survivors, victims' families, and the broader community.
Dear's death brings closure to a nearly nine-year legal case that never reached trial due to his persistent mental incompetence rulings. The tragedy continues to serve as a somber reminder of the consequences of ideological extremism and violence against healthcare providers.
