Reagan shooter John Hinckley to be released unconditionally

John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot President Reagan in 1981 in an attempt to assassinate him, will be unconditionally released in June 2022 if he complies with the restrictions in effect, according to a ruling released Monday by a federal judge in the United States. District of Columbia.

Hinckley, who was 25 when he shot Mr. Reagan, was suffering from an acute psychosis and believed that killing the president would attract the attention of actress Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed. Jurors have found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity. The verdict committed him to living in St. Elizabeths, a Washington, DC hospital for the mentally ill.

His lawyers have argued that he no longer poses a threat to anyone, and District Court Judge Paul Friedman noted that few patients at St Elizabeth’s Hospital have been studied more thoroughly than Hinckley, who has obtained weeks of stay with his family from 2007 and was released on condition in 2016. Since then he has continued to be monitored and Friedman said “there had been no indication of any problems.”

Friedman went on to say that some of the conditions imposed on Hinckley “were probably not necessary” and “if he had not tried to kill a president, he probably would have been granted unconditional release a long time ago.”

President Reagan was injured in front of the Hilton hotel in Washington when a bullet fired by Hinckley ricocheted off the presidential limousine and into his chest, puncturing his lung and causing severe blood loss. Hinckley also shot Police Officer Thomas Delahanty, Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy and Press Secretary James Brady who was confined to a wheelchair following the shooting and died of 33 injuries. years later. The coroner ruled her dead a homicide, although no further charges have been brought against Hinckley.

Hinckley did not appear in court. His lawyer, Barry Levine, told the court that Hinckley “expresses his apologies and deep regret for his actions.” He said Hinckley was not asking for forgiveness, but for understanding, and he cited Hinckley’s mental health issues as the reason for his actions.

Levine told CBS News that Hinckley “wishes he could reverse this act.” When asked why Hinckley didn’t appear in court, Levine said Hickley was not interested in “assaulting the cameras.”

He also argued that there was currently “no evidence of danger” on Hinckley’s part, and added that Hinckley’s disorder of narcissism “has largely been greatly alleviated.”

The government has opposed ending all restrictions, according to a court filing from May. As part of his parole, Hinckley must give notice if he drives more than 75 miles outside of Williamsburg, Virginia, where he lives; he is required to attend monthly appointments with the Department of Behavioral Health; he must provide usernames and passwords for all devices, and he is not allowed to own a firearm. Friedman’s order has yet to be released, so it’s unclear whether Hinckley will be allowed to obtain a gun when the other conditions for his release are lifted next June.

In 2020, a court ruled that Hinckley would be allowed to display his music and artwork under his name. Her music can be found on her YouTube channel.