On March 30, 1981, the United States was shaken to its core when then President Ronald Reagan became the target of an infamous assassination attempt. The shocking incident took place in Washington D.C., outside the Hilton Hotel, where President Reagan had just delivered a speech.

The assailant responsible for this heinous act was John Hinckley Jr., a troubled young man who had become obsessed with the actress Jodie Foster. Hinckley's twisted infatuation with Foster led him to hatch a plan to impress her by assassinating the President.

Hinckley meticulously planned the attack, stalking President Reagan in the days leading up to the fateful day. On that fateful afternoon, as President Reagan exited the hotel, Hinckley fired six shots in quick succession, with one bullet penetrating Reagan's lung, just an inch away from his heart. The President's press secretary, James Brady, a police officer, and a Secret Service agent were also wounded in the attack.

John Hinckley Jr.'s motives for attempting to assassinate President Reagan were rooted in his delusional obsession with Jodie Foster. His deranged mind believed that by committing this heinous act, he would capture Foster's attention and win her affection. This twisted obsession ultimately led to the assassination attempt that shocked the nation.

Fortunately, President Reagan survived the attack and went on to serve two terms in office. However, the incident had a lasting impact on his presidency and the nation as a whole. It also led to significant changes in the Secret Service's protective protocols and increased public awareness of the dangers faced by public figures.

In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, John Hinckley Jr. was arrested, tried, and found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was committed to a psychiatric hospital, where he remained for decades until his release in 2016, under strict conditions.

The assassination attempt on President Reagan serves as a stark reminder of the dangers public figures face and the lengths to which some individuals will go to achieve their twisted goals. Today, it stands as one of the most infamous assassination attempts in American history, forever etched in the nation's collective memory.

Sign Up