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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Samuel Osborne

Colorado Springs shooting: Victims named by family members

Two civilian victims of the Planned Parenthood shootings in Colorado Springs have been named by family members.

Local media reports mother of two Jennifer Markovsky, 26, who is originally from Hawaii, and Ke’Arre Stewart, 29 and father of two, both died in the attacks.

The third person killed was Colorado Springs police officer Garrett Swasey, 44. He responded to the scene after shootings began, and is a father of two.

Nine people were wounded in the attack, but all are expected to recover.

The suspect, Robert Lewis Dear, is in police custody.

Although no motive has been confirmed, Planned Parenthood wrote on Twitter: "We now know the man responsible for the tragic shooting at PP’s health center in CO was motivated by opposition to safe and legal abortion."

Dear is due to appear in court on Monday. He told police "no more baby parts" after his arrest.

John Ah-King, Ms Markovsky's father, wrote on Facebook: "To my daughter Jennifer I’m going to miss so much, I lost you in a senseless shooting in Colorado Springs, Planned Parenthood.

"Life was too short my beloved daughter, I was waiting to see you soon, I’m going to miss you, my memories of you will live on in my heart and mind! Missing you!"

Media in Colorado reported Mr Stewart's wife said: "He leaves behind his children, whose lives will now never be the same"

Officer Swasey’s family released a statement to say : "Our loss cannot be expressed in words. While the nation now knows Garrett as a hero who gave his life for others, he was also a devoted husband of 17 years and a wonderful father to his two children.

"His greatest joys were his family, his church, and his profession."

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