John Hinckley Jr., who shot Ronald Reagan, is set to be released unconditionally on June 15
Washington – John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot and nearly killed President Ronald Reagan in 1981, is set to be released unconditionally from court-ordered psychiatric supervision on June 15, after federal prosecutors, medical professionals Hinckley’s mental health and legal team told a judge on Wednesday that they have no concerns about his mental state.
Hinckley, now 67, shot Reagan as the president exited a Washington hotel on March 30, 1981, puncturing a lung and causing severe internal bleeding. Three others were also injured. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982 and remained hospitalized until 2006. He was allowed to live with his mother in 2016.
Hinckley suffered from acute psychosis when he shot the President and developed an obsession with actress Jodie Foster, believing the attack would impress her.
In September 2021, the court approved an agreement by prosecutors and Hinckley’s defense team who would allow his release in June if he met certain conditions. A U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia held a hearing Wednesday to make sure the deal remained intact.
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In a status report for court last month, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia wrote that Hinckley “has regained his sanity such that he poses no danger to himself or others by reason of mental illness if he is unconditionally released on June 15, 2022.”
Barry Levin, Hinckley’s attorney, told the court on Wednesday that his client’s release deal was ‘the culmination of decades of work’ after medical professionals reached a ‘unanimous’ decision on his health mental.
Hinckley wishes he could “undo” his actions, the attorney said, and wished to apologize to the Reagan family. Hinckley himself was not present in court.
Prosecutors said they wished Hinckley “the best” and said his success speaks to the value of proper mental health care.
Judge Paul Friedman reminded the court that they were there because Hinckley had tried to kill Reagan, adding that the president “was very close to death.” The judge discussed the long history of the case and said the decision was not made lightly.