Judge Grants Release for John Hinkley Jr. Over 40 Years After He Shot Reagan

More than 40 years after he shot then-President Ronald Reagan in 1981, a federal judge ruled Monday that John Hinckley Jr. can be unrestrictedly released next year.

As reported by Fox News, Hinckley was committed to St. Elizabeth’s hospital for more than 34 years before he was released under certain restrictions in 2016.

“If he hadn’t tried to kill a president he would have been released unconditionally a long time ago,” U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman said.

Friedman granted Hinkley’s restricted release five years ago because his mental condition was “in full and sustained remission.”

Following his restricted release from the hospital in 2016, he was required to live with his mother in her Williamsburg, Virginia home. He was also prohibited from having a firearm, contacting Regan’s children or contacting Jodie Foster, whom he was obsessed with and intended to assassinate Reagan for.

Hinckley will be released without restrictions in June 2022.