Three Dead, Including Police Officer, in Colorado Springs

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Three Dead, Including Police Officer, in Colorado Springs

November 29th, 2015

Awake Goy

Authorities in Colorado Springs have identified the alleged perpetrator in a Friday shooting spree that killed a police officer and two civilians as 57-year-old Robert Dear.

An official, who has direct knowledge of the case, said Dear is from North Carolina.

Investigators say Dear is the gunman who, armed with an AK-47-style weapon, burst into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs Friday, shooting at police from inside the building.

A five-hour standoff ensued. It came to an end as the shooter surrendered to police but not before police say he killed the officer and two civilians. Nine other people were injured.

Authorities said Saturday that the nine injured, five police officers among them, were all in good condition at area hospitals.

The officer who was killed is identified as Garrett Swasey, 44, with the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Police Department.

Swasey was a six-year veteran of the department. He was married and had a son and daughter, according to the website of his church, Hope Chapel in Colorado Springs.

UCCS Chancellor, Pam Shockley Zalabak, released this statement: “It is with great sadness that I share that the tragic events today at the offices of Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs have touched the campus of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.”