Who Is Robert Lewis Dear? Alleged Planned Parenthood Shooter Who Shot Police Officers, Civilians

UPDATED 3:05 p.m. EST: The alleged Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic gunman has a history of arrests in South Carolina, the Post and Courier reported Saturday. The Charleston, South Carolina, newspaper quoted "an official who has direct knowledge" as saying Robert Lewis Dear has a history of domestic violence, peeping tom, animal cruelty and other charges.

His ex-wife refused to comment on the suspect, the newspaper said.

UPDATED 3 p.m. EST: The regional head of Planned Parenthood said Saturday the Colorado Springs, Colorado, clinic shot up by a gunman would reopen the facility as soon as possible. Vicki Coward spoke at the first of seven vigils scheduled for the victims of Friday's incident, the Associated Press reported.

She said all 15 of the clinic's employees survived, adding staff will "square our shoulders" and move on.

UPDATED 9 a.m. EST: President Obama issued a statement Saturday saying Americans should not have to "comfort the families of people killed by gun violence" any day, let alone the holidays.

We don’t yet know what this particular gunman’s so-called motive was for shooting twelve people, or for terrorizing an entire community, when he opened fire with an assault weapon and took hostages at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado. What we do know is that he killed a cop in the line of duty, along with two of the citizens that police officer was trying to protect. "

Obama said we cannot accept such incidents as normal and called for action to limit access to "weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them. Period. Enough is enough."

UPDATED 8:45 a.m. EST: ABC News reported police confirmed the shooter's identity as Robert Dear, 57. He was held without bond pending a Monday court appearance.

Original post:

A North Carolina man allegedly killed a college police officer and two civilians, and wounded nine others in a five-hour standoff at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Police sources told the Denver Post Robert Lewis Dear, 57, was taken into custody at 4:52 p.m. MST (6:52 EST) Friday after surrendering, the city's mayor and police department said.

"This is a terrible, terrible tragedy that occurred here in Colorado Springs today," Mayor John Suthers said. There was no immediate word on what triggered the incident, the Denver Post reported Saturday.

Garrett Swasey, 44, a police officer at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, a six-year veteran officer, was killed in the incident after being among the first officers to respond. The clinic is about 10 minutes from the university campus, the Post said. The names of the dead civilians were yet to be released. Four officers were injured in the incident.

"This is going to be a complicated scene that will take hours -- probably days -- for us to process,” said Lt. Catherine Buckley, spokeswoman for the Colorado Springs police, according to Buzzfeed News.

“At this point I have as many questions as you do,” Police Chief Peter Carey said after the suspect was led away in handcuffs.

The active shooter situation lasted some five hours Friday with at least 11 people transported to local hospitals, according to ABC News. Early reports suggested a man dressed in a trench coat and hat barricaded himself in the Planned Parenthood at 3480 Centennial Blvd. near a strip mall and bank.

Police and the gunman exchanged fire and Buckley said the suspect had used some kind of a "long firearm." At least 20 shots were fired. Police cordoned off the area surrounding the Planned Parenthood building, and locked the area down, telling people to shelter in place, according to the New York Times.

Officers snuck into the building and helped six or seven people escape from a bathroom nearby, USA Today reported. Police eventually were able to communicate with the suspect and get him to surrender. The suspect also brought "items" with him to the scene, although it remained unclear what these items were. Buckley said she could not say if the items were explosives or other dangerous devices.

While a motive for the attack is not yet clear, Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions in many of its clinics, drawing protesters, has been subject to a number of attacks since the 1980s.