Robert Dear, the man charged with orchestrating the deadly 2015 shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic, has passed away in federal custody at the age of 67. His death comes after a years-long legal struggle that had delayed his prosecution due to the complex issue of his mental health care, specifically whether he could be medicated against his will to stand trial. The Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that Dear succumbed to natural causes at a medical center for federal prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, over the weekend. His death marked the closure of a case that had become a focal point for discussions about mental health, legal procedures, and the rights of individuals in the justice system.
The attack had occurred on November 27, 2015, when Dear, armed with an array of weapons, including four SKS rifles, five handguns, and over 500 rounds of ammunition, arrived at the clinic with the intent to wage war against its services. According to the Justice Department, he began by shooting at people parked near his vehicle, killing one and seriously injuring another. He then proceeded to the clinic, where he engaged in a five-hour standoff with law enforcement. During this encounter, he shot at both law enforcement officers and firefighters, resulting in the deaths of one officer and injuries to four others. The victims included Ke’Arre Stewart, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and was a father of two; Jennifer Markovsky, a mother of two who grew up in Oahu, Hawaii; and Garrett Swasey, a campus police officer. Nine other people were injured in the incident.
Dear had been in a continuous legal battle to determine his competency to stand trial. His mental health condition, including delusional disorder, was a central issue, with prosecutors facing the challenge of whether he could receive compulsory medical treatment without his consent. The legal proceedings had stalled for years, as he was repeatedly found incompetent and required to undergo civil commitment. As the case neared its conclusion, the District Attorney’s office expressed its frustration at the lack of justice for the victims and the community. The case remains a significant example of the intersection between criminal law and mental health advocacy, with implications for the legal system and public safety.
While the death of Robert Dear has brought a resolution to the case, it has also raised broader questions about how society handles individuals with severe mental health issues and the legal challenges of prosecuting those who are deemed mentally unfit. The events of 2015 continue to be a point of discussion in legal and psychiatric circles, as well as in public discourse concerning access to reproductive healthcare and the role of gun control in preventing such tragedies.