After Hinckley nearly succeeded in killing President Reagan — one bullet, a ricochet, struck just an inch from the president’s heart — the nation would become outraged when Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity, which forever changed the way the insanity defense was used across the nation (via History). After his trial, he was moved to St. Elizabeths, a psychiatric hospital in Washington D.C. where he would live for a couple of decades, being treated by psychiatrists and through group therapy, according to WFAA.
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NPR reports that in September 2021, a judge ruled that Hinckley, now 67 years old, could live free of any restrictions, an order that was scheduled to take effect the following June 15. After years of treatment and supervision, Hinckley was deemed safe to live and function on his own. He now is pursuing a new musical career and working on a new country album, according to Rolling Stone. He also issued an apology letter to the American people, President Ronald Reagan’s family, and Jodie Foster. He currently posts videos of him singing and playing guitar on his YouTube channels, and even has a booked-out show, per Newsweek. With decades of mental health treatment, Hinckley looks to form a new life for himself as a free man.
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