Nationwide, reproductive health and women centers seem to be a main target of hate. Following an incident of arson at a Planned Parenthood building in Tennessee, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Pasadena, California, has made headlines for being targeted at least a dozen times within the last year. The incidents are all suspected to be connected to one man.
A 53-year-old man identified as Richard Royden Chamberlin faces federal charges after allegedly shooting a BB gun on several occasions at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Pasadena. Chamberlin arrested Jan. 28 by FBI agents, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for California’s central district.
An affidavit filed in January noted that federal agents planned to search Chamberlin’s Altadena apartment and digital devices for possible evidence of other federal crimes, including conspiracy against rights and interference with federally protected activities. The document referenced a 2015 YouTube video in which Chamberlin—calling himself a “documentary filmmaker, investigative journalist and basically an all-around stuntman with a camera”—presents a “call for action” against corruption and persecution. In the video, he specifically references those who are “aborting babies and selling their body parts.”
“Chamberlin accused Planned Parenthood of ‘taking whole babies and selling baby body parts,’ but denied knowing where the Pasadena Planned Parenthood was located and denied shooting at it with a BB gun,” the affidavit said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “After being told that he was seen on video shooting a BB gun at the building, [he] asked to see the video and added, after a brief silence, ‘at least the baby murderers have somebody on their side.’” On the day of his arrest, Chamberlin was reportedly supposed to appear in court on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to Mercury News, Chamberlin had previously been arrested on May 7, 2021, after a Pasadena officer pulled him over, minutes after the latest drive-by attack on the clinic. At the time, officers allegedly found at least eight BB guns as well as a loaded .22-caliber handgun.
During his interview with the police, Chamberlin claimed he was an undercover journalist and had investigated Planned Parenthood for “selling body parts.” He denied knowing where the Pasadena clinic was and claimed that no “real guns” had been found in his car. When an officer mentioned the .22-caliber handgun, Chamberlin reportedly swore under his breath, according to Mercury News.
According to the FBI affidavit, Chamberlin was convicted of a felony drug offense in 2012 in Arizona and is the registered owner of nine firearms.
After his arrest in May, he was charged with several misdemeanor violations, including negligent discharge of a BB gun. He was then released on bail and expected to appear in court.
While Chamberlin claims to not know the location of the Pasadena clinic, multiple attacks on the clinic were reported involving a BB gun, the first being in June 2020. While nobody was injured, windows were shattered and employees and patients reported distress.
The facility reported 12 incidents from June 27, 2020 to May 7, 2021, including a series of six that happened back to back on April 9, 10, 11, 15, 25, and May 2, 2021. Planned Parenthood officials suspected the use of a BB gun because they found multiple pellets in the facility near the front door.
“During one of these shootings on March 30, 2021, a patient’s support companion was nearly hit as she waited on the front porch,” the FBI affidavit said, according to CBS News. “In addition to incurring the costs of repairs and added security, Planned Parenthood has had to cancel patient appointments and the staff has been emotionally traumatized not knowing when the next shooting will occur.”
Surveillance video showed images of a blue Chevrolet Malibu passing the clinic at the times of some of the shootings, which occurred throughout the year into 2021.
After a security guard alerted police that another shooting had just occurred, a car matching the description was seen near the clinic. When pulled over, Chamberlin was found inside.
According to the Los Angeles Times, investigators believe Chamberlin may have had an accomplice for some of the attacks. Planned Parenthood surveillance videos from April 11 and April 25 show a woman sitting in the front passenger seat of Chamberlin’s car, the affidavit said.
At this time, the only federal charge is the possession of one handgun. If convicted, Chamberlin would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.