Abortion Provider Killed At Kansas Church

Prominent Advocate For Abortion Rights Murdered; 51-Year-Old In Custody, But Unclear Whether He Is The Accused Shooter

(CBS/AP)  Dr. George Tiller, one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions despite decades of protests and attacks, was shot and killed Sunday in a church where he was serving as an usher.

The gunman fled, but a 51-year-old suspect was detained some 170 miles away in suburban Kansas City three hours after the shooting, Wichita Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz said.

Although Stolz refused to release the man's name, Johnson County sheriff's spokesman Tom Erickson identified the detained man as Scott Roeder. He has not been charged in the slaying and was expected to be taken to Wichita for questioning.

Police did not release a motive for the shooting. But the doctor's violent death was the latest in a string of shootings and bombings over two decades directed against abortion clinics, doctors and staff.

Long a focus of national anti-abortion groups, including a summer-long protest in 1991, Tiller was shot in the foyer of Reformation Lutheran Church. Tiller's attorney, Dan Monnat, said Tiller's wife, Jeanne, was in the choir at the time.

The U.S. Marshals service increased security around some other prime targets in the abortion sphere following Tiller's murder.

"I can confirm Attorney General Holder has directed the U.S. Marshals Service to increase security for a number of individuals and facilities following the murder," spokesman Jeff Carter told CBS News. "I cannot disclose the subjects of our security efforts as it is the policy of the U.S. Marshals not to comment on the status of any protective detail."

Tiller was one of the most demonized by the extremist wing of the anti abortion rights movement, reports CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano.

"For years he's been the number one target, or certainly one of the principle targets," Ellie Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation told Solorzano.

"I've been picketed since 1975. My office has been blown up. We've had 4,000 people arrested in my office in 1991. In 1993 I survived an assassination attempt," Tiller said in archival footage.

But it was not enough to deter him from his practice.

Asked after the assassination attempt if it was going to change the way he does business, Tiller replied, "I don't think so. I have the wonderful opportunity to help people everyday."

"He had been from 1993 until now very harassed and threatened. He had been vandalized repeatedly," Smeal told Solorzano."He went to work in an armored car. He knew the danger he was in."

The slaying of the 67-year-old doctor is "an unspeakable tragedy," his widow, four children and 10 grandchildren said in statement. "This is particularly heart-wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace."

Tiller is seen in a January, 2002 file photo.

The family said its loss "is also a loss for the city of Wichita and women across America. George dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality health care despite frequent threats and violence."

Stolz said all indications were that the gunman acted alone, although authorities were investigating whether he had any connection to anti-abortion groups.

Tiller's Women's Health Care Services clinic is one of just three in the nation where abortions are performed after the 21st week of pregnancy. The clinic was heavily fortified and Tiller often traveled with a bodyguard, but Stolz said there was no indication of security at the church Sunday.

Anti-abortion groups denounced the shooting and stressed that they support only nonviolent protest. The movement's leaders fear the killing could create a backlash just as they are scrutinizing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, whose views on abortion rights are not publicly known.

"We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down," Troy Newman, Operation Rescue's president, said in a statement. "Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning."

President Barack Obama said he was "shocked and outraged" by the murder. "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence," he said.

At Tiller's church, Adam Watkins, 20, said he was sitting in the middle of the congregation when he heard a small pop at the start of the service.

"We just thought a child had come in with a balloon and it had popped, had gone up and hit the ceiling and popped," Watkins said.

Another usher came in and told the congregation to remain seated, then escorted Tiller's wife out. "When she got to the back doors, we heard her scream, and so we knew something bad had happened," Watkins said.

He said the service continued even after an associate pastor announced that Tiller had been injured. "We were just really shocked," he said. "We were kind of dumbfounded. We couldn't really believe it had happened."

Tiller had in the past endured threats and violence. A protester shot Tiller in both arms in 1993, and his clinic was bombed in 1985. More recently, Monnat said Tiller had asked federal prosecutors to step up investigations of vandalism and other threats against the clinic out of fear that the incidents were increasing and that Tiller's safety was in jeopardy. Stolz, however, said police knew of no threats connected to the shooting.

In early May, Tiller had asked the FBI to investigate vandalism at his clinic, including cut wires to surveillance cameras and damage to the roof that sent rainwater pouring into the building.

In 1991, the Summer of Mercy protests organized by Operation Rescue drew thousands of anti-abortion activists to this city for demonstrations marked by civil disobedience and mass arrests.

Tiller began providing abortion services in 1973. He acknowledged abortion was as socially divisive as slavery or prohibition but said the issue was about giving women a choice when dealing with technology that can diagnose severe fetal abnormalities before a baby is born.

Nancy Keenan, president of abortion-rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America, issued a statement praising Tiller's commitment.

"Dr. Tiller's murder will send a chill down the spines of the brave and courageous providers and other professionals who are part of reproductive-health centers that serve women across this country. We want them to know that they have our support as they move forward in providing these essential services in the aftermath of the shocking news from Wichita," Keenan said.

The last killing of an abortion doctor was in October 1998 when Dr. Barnett Slepian was fatally shot in his home in a suburb of Buffalo, N.Y. A militant abortion opponent was convicted of the murder.

Tiller's clinic is fortified with bulletproof glass, and Tiller hired a private security team to protect the facility. Once outside the clinic, Tiller was routinely accompanied by a bodyguard.

At a recent trial, he told jurors that he and his family have suffered years of harassment and threats and that he knew he was a target of anti-abortion protesters.

Federal marshals protected Tiller during the 1991 Summer of Mercy protests, and he was protected again between 1994 and 1998 after another abortion provider was assassinated and federal authorities reported finding Tiller's name on an assassination list.

Tiller remained prominent in the news, in part because of an investigation begun by former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, an abortion opponent.

Prosecutors had alleged that Tiller had gotten second opinions from a doctor who was essentially an employee of his, not independent as state law requires. A jury in March acquitted Tiller of all 19 misdemeanor counts.

"I am stunned by this lawless and violent act, which must be condemned and should be met with the full force of law," Kline said in a statement. "We join in lifting prayer that God's grace and presence rest with Dr. Tiller's family and friends."

[ReginaFilangee]

And btw, no one is pro (ie "for") abortion. There are two groups: Pro-choice, and Anti-abortion. ALL of both groups are "pro-life".

[ReginaFilangee]

"TILLER WAS PROSECUTED FOR ALLEDGELY PROCURRING THE MEDICAL SECOND OPINIONS HE NEEDED TO PERFORM LATE-TERM ABORTION (not in all cases.) I WOULD SUGGEST YOU CHECK THE PUBLIC RECORDS...."---Posted by kristianinal at 5:26 AM : Jun 4, 2009

Yes, please check the public records. Prosecuted.....alleged......yes.....but NOT FOUND GUILTY. If you dig deeper, you'll likely find that these were trumped-up charges based on a personal vendetta for political gain.

[ReginaFilangee]

And btw, no one is pro (ie "for") abortion. There are two groups: Pro-choice, and Anti-abortion. ALL of both groups are "pro-life".

[ReginaFilangee]

"TILLER WAS PROSECUTED FOR ALLEDGELY PROCURRING THE MEDICAL SECOND OPINIONS HE NEEDED TO PERFORM LATE-TERM ABORTION (not in all cases.) I WOULD SUGGEST YOU CHECK THE PUBLIC RECORDS...."---Posted by kristianinal at 5:26 AM : Jun 4, 2009

Yes, please check the public records. Prosecuted.....alleged......yes.....but NOT FOUND GUILTY. If you dig deeper, you'll likely find that these were trumped-up charges based on a personal vendetta for political gain.

[ReginaFilangee]

"TILLER WAS PROSECUTED FOR ALLEDGELY PROCURRING THE MEDICAL SECOND OPINIONS HE NEEDED TO PERFORM LATE-TERM ABORTION (not in all cases.) I WOULD SUGGEST YOU CHECK THE PUBLIC RECORDS...."---Posted by kristianinal at 5:26 AM : Jun 4, 2009

Yes, please check the public records. Prosecuted.....alleged......yes.....but NOT FOUND GUILTY. If you dig deeper, you'll likely find that these were trumped-up charges based on a personal vendetta for political gain.

[magoo2u1]

WHO CAN DEFEND THE ABORTION OF A HEALTHY, LATE-TERM BABY BECAUSE THE MOTHER WAS "DEPRESSED."

TILLER DID THOSE, THAT WAS MURDER.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I do not believe you can know this as a FACT. You may have been told it, you may have heard it. You need documented facts to support the claims. Emotion instead of facts will cost lives while the smug and ignorant claim a small part of the field as a victory at any cost. My daughter would have had to abort a perfectly healthy child because fluids from the placenta were killing her and the baby. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IT , THIS IS AN ABSTRACT ARGUMENT FOR YOU WHILE FOR OTHERS IT IS A REALITY.
AS for "depressed". Depressed mother suffering from POST PARTUM (lookit up) kill themselves and their babies. When you force them to deliver the child I suppose you''ll be the first to pull the switch on them for "hating" their child or call them bad for committing suicide and leaving them motherless. There were two cases of exactly that in Texas a few years back. They were doing "GODS" work , they thought. Mental illness is not a joke either you uneducated dwork.

Magoo was blind but would never admit it. A lot like Kansas I guess.

[ReginaFilangee]

"...the only option would have been abort the baby or lose both lives. These are real issues with real people. Get out of the way and let professionals handle these things."----Posted by magoo2u1 at 3:50 PM : Jun 2, 2009

Sadly, magoo, they'll never do that.....because they have extreme tunnel-vision and can't see that there is EVER a situation that they may not have considered. They feel they have to force their personal beliefs on every other individual. It's really sad that they can be so narrow-minded as to see no other "side" than what they want everyone else to adhere to, even when it has nothing whatsoever to do with them.

How about we start forcing our opinions about how to handle any of THEIR medical issues on them, without regard to their own wishes or their doctors' recommendations?

[magoo2u1]

FYI: the baby delivered ok but if it were a few weeks earlier the only option would have been abort the baby or lose both lives. These are real issues with real people. Get out of the way and let professionals handle these things.

[magoo2u1]

Alright there you bunch of brainiacs. If you outlaw late term abortions how do you plan to handle cases of preeclampsia / eclampsia? I assume ALL you people with opinions on who should be elected to decide this for us are familiar with the condition and are ready with a treatment that will save my daughter and her baby. WELL. WHERE IS YOUR ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT?? Now stupppid, I need the answer now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lives are are at stake here I need your alternative. Hurry please...............................

[Greg-2008]

I feel ashamed of all of you for trying to turn this tradegy into a religous war. The doctor was in the act of worship to GOD when someone else acted in a selfish act of murder for his own personal reasons. There is no group, race, faith, philosophy or non-faith that hasn't acted to murder, mass murder or conduct genocide throughout human history. Instead of getting on your silly soap boxes or trying to blame a group. Act selfless, join me in prayer for the safety and security of the family and act in solace to the family left behind, they need us all no matter what anyone feels towards the doctor. I submit to his church body to gather around his family and help them. But mostly EVERYONE stop trying to blame GOD for the premediated actions of a man that nobody has any idea of why he acted in the way he acted. Grow up and get off your soap boxes.