What we know about the Planned Parenthood Shooting in Colorado Springs

Here are the latest developments in the attack at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs.

What happened?

Authorities are still investigating the chaotic scene that involved dozens of police officers and numerous gunshots. But witness interviews and police radio transmissions, archived by the website Broadcastify, provide insight into the five-hour ordeal. Together, they tell the story of a shooter who quickly turned his rage onto responding police officers and of police who braved heavy fire to move toward their suspect. Three people were killed and 12 others were injured.

Who were the victims?

Among those killed was University of Colorado at Colorado Springs police officer Officer Garrett Swasey, 44, who responded to calls for mutual aid and was among the first to arrive. Swasey was a church elder, ice skating champion and a father of two. His widow released a statement Sunday morning.

Two civilians were killed in the attacks.

Jennifer Markovsky, a 35-year-old mother of two, was accompanying a friend to the clinic when she was killed. Markovsky grew up in Hawaii and moved to Colorado several years ago when her husband, Paul, was stationed here for the military. Markovsky was a stay-at-home mom who was devoted to her young son and daughter.

Ke’Arre Stewart, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and the father of two girls, was killed in Friday’s shooting. Stewart, 29, graduated from La Vega High School in Texas in 2004 and joined the Army. He was stationed in Colorado and stayed because he loved the state.

Who is the suspect?

Robert Lewis Dear, 57, lived with a woman and two German shepherds in a dilapidated recreational vehicle with no running water, sewer or electricity. Those who knew Dear alternately described him as combative or secretive, occasionally known to spout off politically. He feuded with some neighbors who called the police on him but appeared to others to just be an ordinary, easygoing man.

What was the shooter’s motive for the attack?

Colorado Springs police would not speculate about a motive for the shootings, but signs point to anti-abortion politics. A law enforcement official said the suspect in the rampage made a comment about “no more baby parts” after his arrest. The official would not elaborate. Within hours of the shootings, supporters of gun control and abortion rights called on authorities to take steps to prevent a repeat of the attack.

How is the community responding?

Since the shooting, Colorado Springs residents have expressed their grief through several vigils. A Saturday morning vigil at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church featured mourning and reflection along with some political statements. A Saturday evening vigil held in Swasey’s honor dove into the officer’s heroism and faith. On Sunday, members of the evangelical Hope Chapel where Swasey was a co-pastor faced the first Sunday service following the officer’s death. The crowd cried, remembered and laughed as they watched video of Swasey ice skating. The congregation also prayed for the gunman, adding that Swasey would have forgiven him. A community crisis center has been set up at Mortgage Solutions Financial Center at 3650 North Nevada Avenue for those impacted by the shooting. The center will offer resources for people who were in the immediate area of the shooting and need assistance recovering. The center will be open from Sunday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

What happened during Dear’s first court appearance on Monday?

Dear appeared before 4th Judicial District Chief Judge Gil Martinez for an advisement hearing on Monday, Nov. 30 in Colorado Springs, wearing a jail-issued security smock, designed to protect inmates from suicide attempts. Public defender Dan King — one of the lead attorneys in the death penalty trial for Aurora theater shooting gunman James Holmes — was his representation. Dear, who is being held on an initial charge of first-degree murder, was advised of his rights and asked whether he understood them in a hearing that lasted just more than 10 minutes.

Will Dear face the death penalty?

District Attorney Dan May said formal charges would be filed on Dec. 9 at a 1:30 p.m. hearing. Under Colorado law, prosecutors have 63 days after Dear’s arraignment hearing — which is still months away — before they have to say whether they will even seek the death penalty.