Shooter Brags About Blood in Clinic Attack

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CN) - The gunman who killed three and injured nine in a six-hour shooting spree at a Planned Parenthood clinic called himself a "warrior for the babies," while being formally charged with the crimes on Wednesday.

Denver CBS reported that Robert Dear, 57, made several outbursts in court as his charges were read to him, yelling, "You'll never know the amount of blood I saw in that place."

Dear appeared in court with his public defender, Dan King, who recently represented the Aurora theater shooter James Holmes at trial.

King addressed the court and presiding Chief Judge Gilbert Martinez, and explained his own concerns as to Dear's mental competence. Dear interrupted King, saying, "You are not my lawyer." Dear later said that he would "not meet with [King] again."

The gunman told the court that would not cooperate with a mental health evaluation, stating that he was competent to stand trial.

Dear's charges were formally read and filed by El Paso County District Attorney Dan May, who charged him with 179 criminal counts including 131 charges of attempted murder and assault for the nine people injured and other civilians and employees who were present at the clinic, and eight charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of UC campus officer Garrett Swasey, Iraq war veteran Ke'Arre Marcell Stewart, and Jennifer Markovsky, a mother of two.

As the victims were listed in court, Dear interrupted, "Could you add the babies that were supposed to be aborted that day? Could you add that to the list?"

During a discussion about sealing documents, Dear spoke up again.

"Seal the truth, huh? Kill the babies, that's what Planned Parenthood does," Dear said.

The preliminary hearing and arraignment have not yet been scheduled. Once Dear enters a plea, the prosecution has 63 days to decide if they want to pursue the death penalty.

Dear's next hearing will be held on Dec. 23, to address his mental competency.

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