COLORADO SPRINGS – The confessed gunman in the Planned Parenthood shooting was once again ruled incompetent to stand trial during a hearing Friday morning. Dear was not present at the hearing as he continues to undergo treatment at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo.
His next review is scheduled for August 5th, as part of the protocol to review his mental state every 90 days. Last fall, the court heard from two psychologists who testified Dear has a delusion disorder. They said it keeps him from trusting almost anyone.
According to 4th Judicial District Attorney Dan May, the Pueblo County Attorney’s Office is expected to file motions concerning forcibly medicating of Dear. “One of the concerns right now is how the medications may affect his health or the side effects of the medication on his health,” said May.
In early 2017, an appellate court ruled that staff can administer antipsychotic medicine to Dear. The court ruled that “the forced administration of antipsychotic medications to Dear is not an unconstitutional deprivation of his liberty.”
The court’s ruling upheld a district court’s decision which said the medications that Dear had refused were “medically appropriate” and involuntary medication was “necessary to further the government interests.” The Colorado Supreme Court refused to hear the case.
He is charged with 179 counts, including murder and attempted murder. Police said Dear told investigators he attacked the clinic because of his anti-abortion views.
Three people were killed and nine injured in the standoff at the Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs on November 25, 2017. The standoff lasted for five hours before a SWAT vehicle was sent into the lobby, forcing the attacker to surrender. UCCS Police officer Garrett Swasey, Ke-Arre Stewart, and Jennifer Markovsky were killed in the attack.
