Abortion Doctor Death

New Jersey abortion clinics are on alert. The search for an anti-abortion activist sought for questioning in the sniper killing of an abortion provider near Buffalo, N.Y., now includes New Jersey. The head of the FBI's Newark office on Wednesday appealed to the public for assistance in locating James Charles Kopp. "At this point we know that there are several links that Mr. Kopp has in New Jersey," Special Agent in Charge William C. Megary said. Kopp, 44, has been spotted in at least two locations in New Jersey and looks different than in photographs from January 1997 distributed by authorities, FBI Special Agent Monica M. Patton said. "He is wearing a bushier beard, and he also has gained approximately 10 to 15 pounds," said Patton, a spokeswoman for the FBI office in Newark. "He may additionally be wearing large, reading-type glasses." "The bushier beard is a recent sighting ... within the past few days," Patton said. Kopp has been spotted in the Red Bank area, which is in central New Jersey, and in Essex County, which is in the north, she said. Megary, speaking at a hastily called news conference Wednesday night, would not confirm that Kopp has been seen in New Jersey. He said the FBI has not notified abortion clinics in the state. Police in Red Bank were unaware of Kopp's presence in the area. "It's news to me," Lt. Aurelio Ramos said Wednesday evening. Kopp is wanted on a federal material witness warrant in the Oct. 23 shooting of Dr. Barnett Slepian of Amherst, N.Y. Law enforcement officials have said he is not considered a suspect in the murder. Patton said she could not give specifics about when or where Kopp was sighted. "We have received dozens of investigative leads through interviews conducted by FBI agents," Patton said. "Mr. Kopp appears to be very transient in nature, so we don't have him linked for any period of time with any individual," she said. He appears to be driving his 1987 black Chevrolet Cavalier with Vermont tags, Patton said. The material witness warrant was based on reports that the car was spotted in Amherst in the weeks before the 52-year-old abortion provider was killed.The FBI urges citizens not to approach or attempt to apprehend Kopp. Those with information, which Patton said would be kept confidential, are asked to call these numbers: FBI in Newark, 973-622-5613; FBI in Buffalo at 716-856-7800, or the Task Force Tip Line, 1-800-281-1184. RNN reporters are covering this story and will bring you information on how abortion clinics in the area are reacting.