John Hinckley Jr.

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John Hinckley Jr. FBI Mugshot

John Warnock Hinckley Jr. (born May 29, 1955) is an American man known for the attempted assassination of U.S. President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1981. Hinckley's assassination attempt was driven by his obsession with actress Jodie Foster, whom he sought to impress after becoming infatuated with her from her role in the film Taxi Driver. In the shooting, Hinckley wounded Reagan, White House Press Secretary James Brady, Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy.

Early Life

John Warnock Hinckley Jr. was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and grew up in Dallas, Texas, as the youngest of three children. His father, John Warnock Hinckley Sr., was a successful businessman, and his mother was Jo Ann Moore. Hinckley attended Texas Tech University but dropped out before graduating. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Hinckley developed an obsession with Jodie Foster.

Assassination Attempt

On March 30, 1981, Hinckley fired six shots with a .22 caliber revolver at Reagan and his entourage as they left the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Reagan was seriously wounded but recovered; however, James Brady was left permanently disabled, and both Delahanty and McCarthy were also injured. Hinckley was immediately arrested and later stood trial.

Trial and Verdict

In 1982, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The verdict led to widespread outrage and significant changes in U.S. laws governing the insanity defense. Hinckley was committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Washington, D.C. Over the years, he was gradually granted more freedoms, including supervised visits with his family.

Later Life

In July 2016, a federal judge ruled that Hinckley could be released from St. Elizabeths Hospital to live with his mother in Williamsburg, Virginia, under certain conditions, including regular monitoring by mental health professionals and restrictions on travel. In September 2021, it was announced that Hinckley would be granted unconditional release, effective June 2022, after his attorneys and prosecutors agreed that he no longer posed a threat.

Impact

The assassination attempt had a profound impact on the United States, leading to increased security measures for public officials and changes in the legal handling of individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity. The shooting also led to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, named after James Brady, which instituted federal background checks on firearm purchasers in the United States.