Why Is Penrose Hospital On Lockdown?

According to the Colorado Springs Police, Penrose Hospital, where some of the victims of the Planned Parenthood shooting were being treated, is on lockdown on Monday afternoon. According to a report by local KRDO news station, no one is allowed in or out of the building, and KKTV 11 News reports that patients have been receiving calls notifying them that their appointments have been cancelled due to the situation. But why is the hospital in Colorado Springs on lockdown? According to a initial report by KRDO, the lockdown may have been prompted by a suspicious individual on the hospital premises. Update: At around 12:45 p.m. local time, the lockdown at Penrose Hospital was lifted after a "security concern." The hospital tweeted, "CSPD responded and the situation was resolved. Everyone is safe."

Though officials have not been able to confirm whether the lockdown is related to Friday's Planned Parenthood shooting, no evidence has indicated a connection so far. Fox News reported on Monday afternoon that some of the staff members at Penrose tweeted that the hospital was experiencing a "code silver" lockdown, which refers to "a hostage/weapon/security situation." However, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to KRDO that there is currently no threat to the hospital's patients or visitors.

On Friday, a man opened fire with an assault rifle on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, killing one police officer and two civilians and injuring nine others. Several of those who were wounded in the attack are currently being treated at Penrose Hospital. Because of the circumstances, security was likely increased at the hospital and the extra precaution prompted the lockdown when a suspicious person was reported.

In the aftermath of the shooting and standoff, which lasted nearly six hours, suspect Robert Lewis Dear was taken into police custody, during which he allegedly mentioned "baby parts" when referencing Planned Parenthood. Law enforcement officials have not given an official motive for the shooting, but many people are pointing to his alleged abortion reference as a strong indication that his actions were politically motivated.

The three victims in the shooting were 44-year-old Garrett Swasey, a veteran police officer with the Colorado Springs branch of the University of Colorado; 35-year-old Jennifer Markovsky, a mother of two who had been accompanying a friend to the clinic; and 29-year-old Ke'Arre Stewart, an Iraq War veteran and father of two.

Dear is scheduled to make his first appearance in court later on Monday.