Man shoots himself outside Raleigh clinic, and abortion providers demand protections

This story was updated at 7:05 p.m. March 8, 2021, after the Raleigh Police Department released the suspect’s name.

Police have identified the man who accidentally shot himself outside of a Raleigh abortion clinic on Saturday, a Raleigh Police Department spokesperson said Monday.

The man was an anti-abortion protester, according to the clinic.

Phillip Claiborne Todd, 50, accidentally fired a gun and hurt himself, said Laura Hourigan, a spokeswoman for Raleigh police, Monday night. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. He will be charged with possession of a firearm at a protest, the Raleigh Police Department said.

But for staff at the clinic, the threat of an armed protester is not something new. Staff at A Woman’s Choice of Raleigh worry what Todd’s intentions were in bringing a gun to the protest, and say RPD’s response did little to assuage fears.

The clinic said police did not check other protesters for firearms, nor did they shut down protests for the day for safety concerns.

“Everyone was allowed to remain and it was business as usual,” said Kelsea McLain, a lead coordinator for volunteers with the clinic. “That to me just sends this clear-cut message to these protesters: that this level of violence and escalation is actually OK. You can get away with it.”

McLain expressed further concern Monday night, after the clinic learned that RPD had provided the media with Todd’s name before clinic staff.

“We would hope and expect RPD to let us know who brought a gun to the protest, so we could at the very least keep our eyes open and peeled for that person returning,” she said. “It just feels like RPD is not listening when we say that we feel this was dangerous.”

Hourigan, a spokeswoman for Raleigh police, did not answer The News & Observer’s questions about whether Todd had a conceal-carry license, or whether there was an indication he intended to harm clinic staff or patients.

On Monday, the Police Department issued a statement saying the U.S. Constitution and state law put limits on searching protesters.

“Under the law, police officers may briefly detain an individual and conduct a limited search for weapons when they have reasonable suspicion that the individual is connected to criminal activity in some way and that the individual is armed and presents a threat to safety,” according to the statement.

After Todd was taken away, “individuals on scene were observed in prayer and other lawful activity,” the department stated. “Police may issue orders to protesters to disperse when there is a clear and present danger of riot, disorder, interference with traffic, or other immediate threat to public safety which was not present.”

Officers remained on the scene Saturday morning and afternoon but had “no information suggesting that anyone else present was connected to criminal activity or that any particular individual was armed and threatened safety,” according to the statement.

‘Loud pop’ and blood on man’s leg

McLain, who communicates with volunteers on site throughout the day, said they reported hearing a “loud pop sound” around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and turned to see “a man standing with what appeared to be blood on his leg.”

She added that the clinic has lockdown protocols that are followed when a gun is seen on site, but that no staff members realized the man was armed until after the weapon was discharged. Police arrived, she said, and to their surprise allowed protesters to remain. The investigation lasted roughly 30 minutes, McLain said, and then police left the scene.

“RPD did nothing,” she said. “Nothing was done to ensure that there were no guns present on anyone else.”

“This is incredibly disturbing, and it’s scary,” said Amber Gavin, the vice president of advocacy and operation at A Woman’s Choice. “Folks need to take this really seriously. This man showed up ... and he’s carrying a gun that’s not necessary. It’s not safe.”

Gavin said situations like this are “traumatizing” for volunteers.

“They’re worried and they want it to be taken seriously, especially by RPD,” she said.

In 2019, abortion providers saw rising assaults, as well as death and bomb threats, according to the latest available data from the National Abortion Federation. Four years prior, in 2015, three people were killed and nine were injured in a mass shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado.

“It’s not new to us,” Gavin said. “It’s still very scary, and I keep emphasizing that it needs to be taken seriously.”

In a statement issued Saturday evening, A Woman’s Choice of Raleigh called on Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin and city council members to “create a buffer zone to protect abortion patients and providers in Raleigh.” The organization also called for an investigation into RPD’s conduct, which they claim was “outrageously insufficient.”

“We have been asking for RPD’s support for years and they’ve been dismissive of the harassment, intimidation, threats, and acts of violence against our staff, volunteers, and patients,” the clinic said in its statement. “No one should be blocked from getting health care or be intimidated when they go to a clinic. No one should have to experience this kind of intrusion and harassment at their workplace ... This atrocious behavior would not be tolerated outside any other medical facility.”

This story was originally published March 7, 2021 at 12:05 PM.