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by WILL FOLKS
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Officers of the Columbia Police Department (CPD) are investigating what they have described as “an isolated shooting incident” in a parking lot outside of a Planned Parenthood facility in the Forest Acres region of Columbia, South Carolina.
According to a post from the city’s social media accounts, the incident took place at approximately 10:45 a.m. EST on Friday morning (November 14, 2025).
“A male was shot,” the city’s post noted. “He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.”
According to police, the unnamed victim was in “stable condition” following his hospitalization.
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Witnesses have told FITSNews the incident began when pro-life protester Mark Baumgartner – who runs a sidewalk ministry – was allegedly accosted by an unknown individual outside of the Planned Parenthood facility.
According to these witnesses, Baumgartner – who tried to retreat from the scene – ultimately shot the man in what they insist was an act of self-defense.
“One person has been detained” in connection with the incident, police confirmed – although they have yet to release that individual’s name, describing him only as a “person of interest.”
“The shooting incident… did NOT occur at the Planned Parenthood building,” police noted in a subsequent post.
Sources close to Baumgartner noted that while his ministry has not issued a statement in connection with the shooting, they are cooperating with police – and have provided investigators with evidence (said to include video footage) affirming their contention that Baumgartner acted in self-defense.
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??? Our @RealAndyFancher was on the scene outside Columbia S.C.'s #PlannedParenthood for a brief press conference by the @ColumbiaPDSC – the agency leading the investigation into the shooting that took place there earlier today. pic.twitter.com/fZ0K8LPeoq
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) November 14, 2025
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According to our sources, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were assisting CPD officers in their investigation of the incident.
“We have agents that are assisting,” a federal spokesman told FITSNews, although questions regarding their participation were referred to CPD.
Friday’s incident comes at a contentious time in the ongoing debate over abortion in South Carolina. As we reported last month, state lawmakers are considering two bills which would extend restrictions contained in the “Heartbeat Bill” – pro-life legislation passed by the legislature in 2023 and upheld by the S.C. supreme court back in May.
This is a developing story… please check back for updates.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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17 comments
Terrorist. The man was not just a protester. He acted as a terrorist. Plz call trigger happy white males what they are- terrorists. Thank you.
Hunh? He was peacefully protesting (un)Planned Parenthood and was attacked. He defended himself and somehow he’s a terrorist?!? Baumgartner is a little out there but he’s a well known anti-abortion activist with a well organized support group and not a threat to anyone.
Janice, you’re a little irrational calling everyone that owns a gun a terrorist. Guessing you’re a liberal?
Katie, bless your heart.
We’re supposed to trust a Republican hack who was the former press secretary to report the truth??? LOL. You cite unknown sources without quotes that say he tried to run away, meanwhile other legitimate news outlets quote witnesses who say no such thing. I’m sure you’re completely trustworthy.
The nation is fed up with your party making everything more expensive, selling out to billionaires, turning the country into a police state, and NOW protecting a pedophile president who raped children. We don’t know who did what in this event, but no one trusts your ilk.
You’re selling Will short, he’s not just a Republican hack who was the former press secretary, he also pled guilty to criminal domestic violence
You might want to watch the video for yourself slick. He clearly ran away and tried using less than lethal tools to discourage the assailant.
Police: incident did NOT happen at PP building
Fitsnews headline: “Shooting at SC Planned Parenthood”
Are you not reading your own stories?
The shooting was (accurately stated) at Middleburg Plaza in Forest Drive in Columbia, SC. (un)Planned Parenthood’s facility is on the back side of the building which has a courtyard or breezeway separating the buildings, the incident was on the Forest Drive side of the complex. Baumgartner was protesting (un)PP at the complex where (un)PP has its offices. Semantics.
Ben, since you have already made up your mind about what really happened AND think all of that about this website, what exactly are you doing here? I am sincerely trying to figure out why you are here. Please enlighten me.
The video gives a pretty good play of what happened. Guy used pepper spray first but “victim” kept coming. Nowhere to retreat. It’s called stand your ground. He’s lucky to live. Maybe next time he’ll think about it.
I don’t see what you see here.
The victims hands were in his pockets when he was pepper sprayed. It seems like there were two escalations that were both initiated by Baumgartner.
You can’t just go around pepper spraying people because they’re arguing with you. That’s assault.
Yep, dude had his hands in his pockets and was not a threat when he got sprayed. Baumgartner set this whole thing into motion.
Bitch ass article FAILS to mention the nut job “pro-lifers” were the ones with the gun and ASSAULTED the man first with PEPPER SPRAY first! What a pos article and news organization.
“what exactly are you doing here? I am sincerely trying to figure out why you are here. Please enlighten me.”
There is a sizable portion of this blog’s viewership that is here for the lulz. I would say majority but this is SC after all.
Man with hands in his pockets was ambushed and assaulted with pepper spray. When he defended himself and chased his assailant down, he was gang tackled, held in a headlock and when he stood up, he was shot by Mark Baumgartner who only gets the credit because he got the shot off before Karen did.
This was a clear assassination attempt. He didnt retreat. He ran away like a coward. Look at the photos…he wet himself.
Give a clown a gun and what do you expect?
And finally….an arrest