Now Free, Would-be Assassin John Hinckley Jr. Photographed In Public

Would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley Jr., 61, is a free man. And Hinckley was just photographed for the first time in public.

The man who shot President Ronald Reagan was captured on film getting a bite to eat at a Subway restaurant in Virginia.

New post: “Tastes like… freedom! A gray-haired, paunchy John Hinckley enjoys a Subway sandwich after being relea… https://t.co/yo7NmEGFoT

— Lee Levy (@thekingleelevy) August 14, 2016

On March 30, 1981, Hinckley attempted to assassinate Reagan as the president left the Hilton Hotel in Washington.

He had gotten close enough to squeeze off several shots with a handgun, hitting Reagan as well as White House Press Secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a D.C. police officer.

Hinckley’s motivation for the attack was to impress actress Jodie Foster. He became obsessed with her after seeing her portray a teenage prostitute in the movie Taxi Driver, in which a disturbed man plots to assassinate a presidential candidate.

Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

He was sent to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington for treatment, and spent the next 35 years there.

A federal judge ordered his release in July.

Does anyone else think this is nuts? He was still obsessed with Foster in 2000, even. https://t.co/KSdEIMdpb2

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 15, 2016

According to the New York Post, Hinckley’s freedom is not without restrictions. He has been barred from contacting members of the Reagan family or Foster.

Hinckley’s release from confinement has not been without a lot of controversy, with many questioning the conclusions of the doctors as well as the federal judge who ordered his release.

The move also brings up questions as to whether the criminally insane can be rehabilitated.

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