1981: Hinckley Pleads Not Guilty to Shooting President Reagan

In March 1981, John Hinckley Jr. fired six shots at President Ronald Reagan outside a Washington D.C. hotel, wounding Reagan and three others. The attack was later revealed to be motivated by an obsession with actress Jodie Foster.

On 28 August 1981, Hinckley entered a plea of not guilty to charges of attempted assassination. He was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982 and was committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Washington D.C.

President Reagan presents an introduction for the Horatio Alger Association | ID 26274897 © Joe Sohm | Dreamstime.com
ID 26274897 © Joe Sohm | Dreamstime.com

⬅ See all events from 28 August

Spread the word on your favourite platform!
True Crime Scene Tape

Subscribe to Dark Stories True Crime On This Day

True crime stories, dark history and tour news, straight to your inbox.