MichaelMoore.com

May 31st, 2009 7:15 PM

Kansas abortion doctor shot to death at church

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A Kansas doctor who was a controversial provider of "late-term" abortions was shot and killed in the foyer of his Wichita, Kansas, church on Sunday, and police said they captured the man responsible.

Police plan to charge a 51-year-old man on Monday with homicide and two counts of aggravated assault in the death of 67-year-old George Tiller, a longtime target of anti-abortion activists, said Wichita police spokesman Gordon Bassham.

Tiller was shot while serving as an usher at Sunday services at Reformation Lutheran Church. The shooter threatened two other men at the church, police said.

"We feel that this is an act of an isolated individual, however our investigation continues," said Wichita deputy police chief Tom Stolz.

Bassham said the suspect was captured about 180 miles away, near Kansas City. Police said he was a resident of Merriam, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City.

Tiller's clinic in Wichita, one of only a few in the United States that perform "late-term" abortions, has been the site of mass protests by anti-abortion groups and was bombed in 1985. Tiller was shot and wounded by an abortion opponent in 1993.

Abortions are generally considered late-term when they are performed after the 20th week of gestation on fetuses potentially old enough to survive outside the womb.

Wichita police said they were investigating whether the shooter had any ties to anti-abortion groups.

Anti-abortion group Operation Rescue said it was shocked by the news. "We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ," the group said in a statement on its website.

President Barack Obama expressed shock and outrage, saying in a statement, "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."

Tiller's family released a statement through its lawyers saying: "Today's event is an unspeakable tragedy for all of us and for George's friends and patients. This is particularly heart wrenching because George was shot down in his house of worship, a place of peace."

Abortion foes celebrated earlier this year when Tiller was tried on charges of illegally performing certain abortions in his Wichita clinic. But he was acquitted in March.