Colorado Springs shooting suspect, Robert Dear, right, appears via video before Judge Gilbert Martinez, with public defender Dan King, at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center for this first court appearance, where he was told he faces first degree murder charges, n Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Gazette via AP, Pool
COLORADO SPRINGS, United States鈥擜 drifter arrested over a shooting spree that killed three people and wounded nine at a family planning center in Colorado was charged on Monday with first-degree murder.
READ: Suspect in Colorado attack called loner who left few clues
Robert Lewis Dear, 57, made his first court appearance via video link from the El Paso County jail in Colorado Springs, where he is being held, wearing what appeared to be a protective vest.
He stood impassive next to his attorney as the judge advised him of his rights and read the charge against him, and set another hearing in the case for December 9, when formal charges will be filed.
Several relatives of those killed or wounded in last Friday鈥檚 shooting at the Planned Parenthood clinic watched the proceedings in the courtroom.
READ: 3 dead in shootout inside family planning building in Colorado
Dear faces a minimum of life in prison and a maximum sentence of the death penalty over the killings that have revived the debate in the United States over both gun control and abortion.
Investigators have yet to publicly explain Dear鈥檚 motive but several US media outlets, citing law enforcement officials, reported that he mentioned 鈥渘o more baby parts鈥� when questioned.
The officials said Dear鈥檚 鈥渞antings鈥� also included comments about politics and President Barack Obama.
Vicki Cowart, the head of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said in a statement that witnesses to the shooting spree had confirmed Drew 鈥渨as motivated by opposition to safe and legal abortions.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen an alarming increase in hateful rhetoric and smear campaigns against abortion providers and patients over the last few months,鈥� Cowart said. 鈥淭hat environment breeds acts of violence.鈥�
The rampage killed a police officer, Garrett Swasey, 44, and two civilians, Jennifer Markovsky, 35, a mother of two who was at the clinic supporting a friend, and Ke鈥橝rre Marcell Stewart, 29, an Iraq War veteran and father of two.
Several vigils were held over the weekend in Colorado Springs, the state鈥檚 second-largest city and a place known for its conservative politics and fundamental religious organizations.
Obama after the shooting said 鈥渆nough is enough,鈥澛燼s he called for tighter controls on 鈥渨eapons of war.鈥�
鈥楧omestic terrorism鈥�
There were also calls for better protection for organizations that provide abortions, a procedure that remains highly divisive in the United States.
Critics, many of whom seek to outlaw abortion in the United States, have falsely accused Planned Parenthood of selling fetal organs and body parts for profit, and encouraging women to have abortions in order to expand such operations.
Planned Parenthood receives some government funding but little of that goes for abortion procedures.
鈥淲e need to call the threats of violence and the intimidation of health care providers and patients what it is鈥攄omestic terrorism,鈥� Karen Middleton, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, said in a statement.
鈥淢ore public officials in Colorado and across the country, not just advocacy groups and the people on the frontlines, need to take a stand opposing domestic terrorism and supporting women鈥檚 health.鈥�
The shooting was the second in weeks in Colorado Springs to leave several victims.
On Halloween, a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a revolver and a pistol gunned down a bicyclist and two women at a house for women fighting alcoholism and drug abuse.
He was killed in a shootout with police.