What Reason Did John Hinckley Give For His Attempted Assassination?

Following the attempted assassination of former, U.S President Ronald Reagan, in 1981, the accused, John Hinckley had thought that the attack would impress actress Jodie Foster.

Hickley was at that time obsessed with the actress and was out to impress her with his criminal act.

The Attempted Assassination Of Ronald Reagan

On March 30, 1981, the then United States president Ronald Reagan had just finished a speech when he was shot and injured by John Hinckley Jr. in Washington, D.C.

Reagan was about to return to his presidential vehicle when the shooting occured.

Hickley had used a .22 long rifle bullet that hit the president’s left underarm, breaking his ribs.

Reagan’s lungs was also punctured and and he suffered severe internal bleeding.

The president was in coma at the George Washington University Hospital, in the ICU.

He had to undergo an exploratory surgery. After some months, he was discharged from the hospital.

John Hickley’s Conviction

Hinckley was arrested and jailed for attempted murder and was later confined to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, a DC psychiatric facility.

Federal prosecutors said that Hickley could not be charged on the basis of insanity. He was therefore found not guilty.

Hinckley was released from the  psychiatric hospital on September 10, 2016.

Hickley has been released after 41 years.