Nancy C. Antenucci

John Warnock Hinckley Jr. was born in 1955 and raised in Texas. His father was a prominent businessman. Hinckley attended Texas Tech University but did not complete his studies. He moved to Los Angeles hoping to become a songwriter but was unsuccessful. He later developed a significant obsession with actress Jodie Foster, particularly after seeing her in the film 'Taxi Driver.' This fixation led him to stalk Foster and attempt to gain her attention through various means.

His obsession escalated, and he conceived a plan to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, believing this act would impress Foster and elevate his status. In the lead-up to the assassination attempt, Hinckley acquired weapons and researched presidential security. On March 30, 1981, he shot President Reagan and several others outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Hinckley was apprehended at the scene. He was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and underwent extensive psychiatric treatment for over thirty years. Public reaction to the verdict led to reforms in the insanity defense laws. Hinckley's restrictions were eventually lifted, and he has since released music and an autobiography.

Born in Oklahoma in 1955, John Warnock Hinckley Jr. moved to Dallas, Texas, with his affluent family at a young age. His father, John Sr., was the founder and CEO of Vanderbilt Energy Corporation. Hinckley grew up in Texas and later Colorado, attending Highland Park High School. He briefly enrolled at Texas Tech University but eventually dropped out. In the mid-1970s, he pursued a career as a songwriter in Los Angeles, but his efforts proved fruitless. He experienced financial difficulties and relied on his parents for support. During this period, he began acquiring firearms and practicing with them, while also receiving treatment for emotional issues with antidepressants and tranquilizers.

Hinckley developed a profound obsession with the film 'Taxi Driver' and its lead character, Travis Bickle, with whom he began to identify. His fixation extended to actress Jodie Foster, who starred in the movie. He followed Foster to New Haven, Connecticut, while she attended Yale University, attempting to contact her through letters, poems, and phone calls. When his attempts to establish a connection failed, Hinckley began to fantasize about more extreme actions to gain her attention. He considered hijacking a plane or even suicide. Ultimately, he decided that assassinating the president would be a way to achieve notoriety and impress Foster, believing it would make him an equal in her eyes. He had previously attempted to get close to President Jimmy Carter, even being arrested at an airport with firearms.

On March 30, 1981, Hinckley traveled to Washington, D.C., and learned President Ronald Reagan would be speaking at the Hilton Hotel. He wrote a final letter to Jodie Foster before proceeding to the hotel. Outside the venue, he fired six shots from a revolver. The bullets wounded President Reagan, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, police officer Thomas Delahanty, and White House Press Secretary James Brady. Brady suffered severe, lifelong injuries and was later ruled to have died from his wounds 33 years later. Hinckley was subdued at the scene by bystanders and apprehended by law enforcement. The trial focused heavily on his mental state, with psychiatric experts testifying about his sanity. He was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent decades in psychiatric care. Public reaction to the verdict led to significant changes in the legal definition and application of the insanity defense in the United States.

“The reason I'm going ahead with this attempt now, is because I cannot wait any longer to impress you.”