Washington – John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot and nearly killed President Ronald Reagan in 1981, will be released unconditionally from court-ordered psychiatric supervision on June 15, after federal prosecutors, mental health professionals and Hinckley’s legal team would tell a judge. Wednesday they have no worries about their mental state.
Hinckley, now 67, shot Reagan as the president left a Washington hotel on March 30, 1981, puncturing his lung and causing severe internal bleeding. Three others were also injured. Hinckley was found not guilty of insanity in 1982 and remained in hospital until 2006. In 2016, he was allowed to live with his mother.
Hinckley suffered from acute psychosis when he shot the president and had developed an obsession with actress Jodie Foster, believing the attack would impress her.
In September 2021, the court approved an agreement by prosecutors and the Hinckley Defense Team that would allow his release in June if he met certain conditions. A U.S. District Court judge in the District of Columbia held a hearing on Wednesday to make sure the deal remained intact.
Chaos surrounds the victims of the shooting immediately after the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981 by John Hinckley Jr. in front of the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC Getty Images
In a state court report last month, the U.S. District Attorney for Columbia District wrote that Hinckley “has regained sanity so that he does not pose a danger to himself or others because of a mental illness if released unconditionally on June 15, 2022. “
Barry Levin, Hinckley’s attorney, told the court Wednesday that the deal to release his client was the “culmination of decades of work” after medical professionals made a “unanimous” decision on his mental fitness.
Hinckley wished he could “undo” his actions, the lawyer said, and wanted to apologize to the Reagan family. Hinckley himself was not present in court.
Prosecutors said they wish Hinckley “the best” and said his success is a testament to the value of proper mental health care.
Judge Paul Friedman reminded the court that they were present because Hinckley tried to kill Reagan, adding that the president “was very close to death.” The judge spoke of the long history of the case and said the decision was not a light one.