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Planned Parenthood Shooting Updates

by Chris Tognotti

Update: Around 5 p.m. local time Friday, a gunman who opened fire at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was arrested and taken into police custody alive, according to Mayor John Suthers. Late Friday evening, a law enforcement source told CNN the gunman was Robert Lewis Dear. At least 11 people were taken to hospitals for treatment, including five officers, authorities said. The Colorado Springs Police Department has confirmed that three victims, one Colorado Springs police officer and two civilians, have died.

Earlier: There's an ongoing situation unfolding in Colorado Springs, Colorado right now, as a gunman opened fire Friday morning (reportedly at about 11:45 a.m. local time) at a Planned Parenthood clinic. Conflicting reports often emerge in rapidly developing, chaotic stories like these, which is why it's sometimes hard to keep up with pertinent information as it comes to light, so here are some updates to the Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs.

According to the authorities, no less than five police officers were injured in the incident. The situation reportedly remains active about two hours after it began. MSNBC reported that the Colorado Springs Police Department called on the FBI to provide assistance.

There are reportedly at least six victims who've arrived at the emergency room of Colorado Springs' Penrose Hospital. As The Guardian details, CSPD police lieutenant Catherine Buckley confirmed in a press briefing that at least one civilian was injured in the attack, and that police did trade gunfire with the suspect inside the Planned Parenthood clinic.

CNN has since reported that at least 11 victims were injured — KRDO reports that six of the victims are at Penrose Hospital, while three are at Memorial Hospital.

As recently as 3:15 p.m. local time, CNN reported that the situation was still active, with police trading fire with the gunman inside the Planned Parenthood clinic. They've also updated the reported total of hospitalized victims to nine, citing communications with area hospitals.

In a 4:00 p.m. press briefing, Buckley confirmed to reporters that the gunman was still holed up within the Planned Parenthood clinic, and stated that she had no knowledge of whether anybody had been killed in the attack. She also confirmed that the shooting began inside the clinic, and the gunman did not enter any other businesses, which had been a point of conflicting reports — some people who were inside the clinic, Buckley said, made their way to a nearby bank after the shooting began.

Buckley also stated that the gunman brought undisclosed "items" with him to the Planned Parenthood clinic, which would required examination before the situation could be stabilized. Previous reports from CBS News suggested that authorities were concerned about the possibility of explosives inside the building.

At about 5:00 p.m. local time, CNN reported that the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooter has been detained by the authorities.

Developing...