John Hinckley, President Reagan Shooter, Released from Hospital
- Details
- Category: World News
- Published on Thursday, 28 July 2016 07:56
- Written by Janet Walker
John Warnock Hinckley, the shooter in the 1981 attempted assassination of then President Ronald Reagan and former Press Secretary James Brady, is scheduled to be released, in August, from a mental facility where he has been institutionalized over the past 36 years.
Hinckley, now 61, who admitted he was an obsessed fan and hoped to impress actress Jodi Foster, wounded Reagan, Brady and two others, Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy and Washington Police Officer Thomas Delahenty, as they walked to the Washington Hilton Hotel, in March 1981. He was immediately tackled and subdued at the scene.
The President was rushed into emergency surgery and James Brady sustained a life and career altering brain injury. He recently passed away in 2014. His death was ruled a homicide and a direct result of the 1981 shooting. The two officers also survived.
Hinckley was found Not Guilty by reason of insanity and was reprimanded to a St. Elizabeth Hospital, a psychiatric care facility, in Washington, D.C. Throughout his incarceration he was permitted to participate in media interviews and had exhibited reckless behavior requesting addresses for serial killer Ted Bundy and Charles Manson to whom he sent letters. Documents also indicate he continued to have an unhealthy obsession with Ms. Foster.
Hinckley continued to receive further reintegration freedoms with extended home visits. A condition of his release is that he stay away from the Reagan Family and Ms. Foster. He is schedule to live with his elderly mother and restricted to stay within 50 miles of her Williamsburg, VA home.
Brady, and his wife, Sarah, spent the remainder of their lives championing gun control and lobbying for stricter gun control. It would be thirteen years before Senate would pass any legislation that would address Gun Control.
There has been no indication if Hinckley, now released, will face murder charges in the James Brady Homicide case.
It is unclear if Ms. Foster has requested or received an order of protection restraining Hinckley from contacting her.
Hinckley is scheduled to be released on August 5, 2016.
Image courtesy of the Reagan Presidential Library. John Hinckley, Jr insert courtesy of Wikipedia and used with permission.
