John Hinckley, the man who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981, was released from a psychiatric facility on Saturday, the Guardian reported.
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The jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity and he was committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C.
In late July, a federal judge ruled that Hinckley no longer posed a danger to himself or others, and doctors have now said his depression and diagnosis are in remission.
John Hinckley Jr will live with his 90-year-old mother in Williamsburg, Virginia – but dozens of restrictions have been imposed on his release.
“The very carefully considered decision by the court to release Mr. Hinckley based on the copious evidence by medical professionals and government expert witnesses should give great comfort to a concerned citizenry that the mental health system and the judicial system worked and worked well”, Hinckley’s longtime lawyer Barry William Levine said in a statement.
Former US president Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, at a luncheon in New Orleans in honor of her work to combat drug abuse, August 15, 1988.
In addition to the president, also wounded were Press Secretary James Brady, police officer Thomas Delahanty and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy.
At the time of the shooting, Hinckley was a troubled 25-year-old obsessed with actress Jodie Foster and the movie Taxi Driver.
Interestingly enough, Hinckley will be living in the same gated community politicians – and even presidents – have visited. After a year, he may live alone or with roommates. He can surf the web but, at least initially, he’s not allowed to search for information about his crimes or victims, among other things.
For at least the first six months he’ll see his psychiatrist twice a month and he’ll have to attend weekly group therapy sessions.
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“It’s not a matter of forgiveness but a matter of security”, said Joe Mann, a vocal critic of the release who lives about a half-mile from Hinckley’s mother. He also can’t drink or use illegal drugs.
