Kansas abortion doctor shot dead at church

KANSAS CITY,  Mo (Reuters) – A Kansas doctor who  was a controversial provider of so-called “late-term” abortions  was shot and killed in the foyer of his Wichita, Kansas, church  yesterday, 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 (290  km) away, near Kansas City. Police said he was resident of  Merriam, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City.

Tiller’s clinic in Wichita, one of only a few in the United  States who 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 foetuses  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.

Tiller’s family released a statement through their 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.”