Prosecutors won’t seek death penalty in Planned Parenthood shooting case
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Federal prosecutors have filed a court notice that they won't be seeking the death penalty against Robert Dear, the man accused in a fatal shooting spree at Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs back in 2015.
Dear has been in custody since the day of the shooting on Nov. 27, 2015. Three people were killed during the rampage. Prosecutors say that he traveled to the Planned Parenthood with multiple rifles along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition to start a "war" because the clinic offered abortion services. Police responded, and a deadly shootout ensued across a five-hour standoff before his arrest.
He's facing scores of criminal charges in both Colorado and federal districts, but he has been continually ruled incompetent to stand trial. He was first indicted on more than 60 federal charges in 2019, and prosecutors said the proceedings would be independent of any state prosecution.
According to a notice filed Wednesday, the US Attorney's Office informed Dear that it would not seek the death penalty.
The 4th Judicial District's case against Dear is still open, however, since Dear's arrest, Colorado has abolished the death penalty. A spokesperson said Tuesday's decision in federal court is independent of the state's case against Dear.
The US Attorney's Office says that the prosecution against Dear is still waiting for him to be cleared for mental competency. He's awaiting another competency evaluation, but the setting hasn't been established as of Tuesday.
