Planned Parenthood Shooter Robert Dear Dies in Federal Custody at 67

Robert Dear, the man charged with the deaths of three people and the injuries of nine others in a 2015 shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, has passed away while in federal custody, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Tuesday.

A 67-year-old individual passed away on Saturday due to natural causes at a federal medical center located in Springfield, Missouri, as confirmed by Kristie Breshears, a representative for the Bureau of Prisons. His passing marks a sudden conclusion to a prolonged legal struggle regarding the possibility of his forced medication for trial readiness.

He faced federal charges in 2019, four years following the lethal assault he executed due to the clinic offering abortion services. He consistently declared himself a “champion for the infants,” according to officials. Federal prosecutors claimed he showed up at the clinic equipped with several firearms, propane tanks, and 500 rounds of ammunition. He began shooting outside the clinic before entering it.

Three individuals lost their lives in the attack: Ke’Arre Stewart, 29, an Army veteran and father of two; Jennifer Markovsky, 36, a mother of two from Oahu, Hawaii; and Garrett Swasey, a campus police officer who arrived on the scene after reports of an active shooter. Additionally, nine others sustained injuries.

Dear's journey within the legal system faced significant delays right from the start, as courts determined he was not fit to stand trial because of a delusional disorder. According to 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael J. Allen, whose office was responsible for the initial prosecution of Dear in state court, he was ultimately civilly committed within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Legal proceedings focused on the issue of whether Dear could be administered medication without his consent. His legal team contended that the potential side effects of the drug might exacerbate his unmanaged high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. A federal judge granted permission for forced medication in 2022.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit confirmed this decision last year.

On Tuesday, there was no comment from federal prosecutors or public defenders. Allen stated that Dear’s passing prevents a complete reckoning in the courtroom. “The full measure of justice was warranted for all three victims and this community, yet that possibility has now been taken away,” he stated.

The passing of Dear results in the dismissal of federal charges, bringing closure to a case that has lingered for almost ten years.