The man who killed three people in a targeted attack against a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic has died in federal custody.
Robert Dear, 67, died of natural causes while in federal prison, the Associated Press reported. In 2015, Dear, who had called himself a "warrior for babies," armed himself with several guns, propane tanks, and 500 rounds of ammunition.
Dear killed three people including, Ke'Arre Stewart, 29, and Jennifer Markovsky, 36, who were accompanying friends to the clinic. Also killed was campus police officer Garrett Swasey, who was nearby and responded to the gunfire. Nine others were injured in the shooting, the AP reported.
According to the New York Post, Dear was charged in federal court in 2019. A legal battle ensued over whether Dear could be medicated against his will to treat his mental illness, delusional disorder.
The treatment of his illness became a critical legal issue as he was repeatedly found not competent for trial, the New York Post reported. In 2022, a judge ruled that he could be medicated. The newspaper reported that Dear had several underlying health issues, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
