Planned Parenthood Gunman In Custody After Standoff With Police

UPDATE, 9:37 PM ET: According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, one police officer and two civilians were killed in Friday’s shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic, and nine more people were injured.

UPDATE: shooting at Planned Parenthood.
Dead: UCCS police officer/2 civilians
Wounded: 5 #CSPD officers/4 civilians- all in good condition

— Springs Police (@CSPDPIO) November 28, 2015

After an hours-long standoff inside a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic, police said Friday evening the gunman surrendered and is in custody. Officials declined to confirm whether there were any fatalities, but said in a news conference that 11 individuals, five of them police officers, were transported to hospitals for their injuries.

Colorado Springs police had exchanged gunfire with one male suspect inside the clinic before taking him into custody at 4:52 p.m. local time. Mayor Steve Bach confirmed there was “no continuing peril” after the man’s arrest.

Officers were continuing to evacuate civilians from the building late Friday, and CSPD spokeswoman Catherine Buckley said police acted with “untold valor” to get civilians in the clinic to safety.

Buckley said she did not “have information” that the suspect was shot in the exchange. She had earlier said officers on the scene had not made “voice contact” with the gunman, but confirmed that the gunman surrendered and was taken into police custody after contact was made.

Buckley said late Friday the suspect was wielding a “long gun” and brought several items with him, including a propane tank, that remained either in or outside the clinic and needed to be “checked out.”
Despite reports to the contrary, Buckley also said the attack originated in the Planned Parenthood building and the gunman did not go into the surrounding businesses.

Buckley had declined to confirm whether there was a hostage situation inside the clinic. Officials have not yet identified the gunman.

Buckey confirmed there with both Planned Parenthood staff and patients in the building, but said it was “premature” to speculate on the suspect’s motives.

Despite AP’s initial report that the shooter was “contained” around 1:15 p.m. local time, the news organization later tweeted that police were “unsure” of the shooter’s location.

CNN reported President Obama had been briefed on the situation.

Police tweeted that information about civilian injuries remained unknown.

#CentennialBl incident CSPD confirms 3 officers injured unknown civilian injuries situation still not stable.

— Springs Police (@CSPDPIO) November 27, 2015

Law enforcement tweeted for residents at a nearby shopping center to shelter in place.

AVOID Centennial and Fillmore active shooter scene is not secure. Shopping Center shelter in place.

— Springs Police (@CSPDPIO) November 27, 2015

Local, state, and federal officials were reportedly on the scene.

ATF, State Patrol, El Paso County Sheriff’s office on scene #cosshooting

— Stephen Hobbs (@bystephenhobbs) November 27, 2015

A witness who works in a restaurant next door to the clinic told the Denver Post that about a dozen police vehicles were on the scene, and officers were facing the clinic with weapons drawn.

The Gazette also reported the suspect was wearing a “hunting-type” hat and a long coat.

Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains said in a statement to NBC:

Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains on shooting: “At this time, our concern is for the safety of our patients, staff and law enforcement.”

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) November 27, 2015

This story has been updated.