Shooter of American President Reagan – John Hinckley finds rejection & indifference in future home

The last man to shoot an American president now is known to spend most of his time in a house which looks over a golf course.

John Hinckley Jr. lives his life like any other average person, going shopping, eating out, and watching moves. He also likes talking walks, plays guitar and paints. He also drives a Toyota to go around town and carry out his activities, although he usually puts on a hat to avoid being recognized by people.

In 1981, when Hinckley was of 25 only, he shot President Ronald Reagan along with 3 more people. Jurors found him not guilty because of insanity and said he was in need of treatment, instead of a life sentence. The verdict had left open the possibility of him being outside a mental institution and having a normal life.

The last one year, with court order, Hinckley has been spending 17 days a month at his mother’s home in Williamsburg, a small southeastern Virginia City. He now meets with a psychiatrist and a therapist on a regular basis and all these extensive processes have rendered him back to society, although at the age of almost 60.

On Wednesday, the court hearings are to start on whether to extend his time in Williamsburg any further or maybe even for good.

John Womeldorf, the local real estate agent always tells his clients where Hinckley’s 89-year-old mother lives whenever he shows houses in the resort community. He doesn’t want the new homeowners to be in a state of surprise following their move into the area.

“I just matter-of-factly ask them ‘Do you remember the guy that shot President Reagan?’ And usually they do and I say, ‘Well his mother lives here and he gets released a number of times a year and comes and stays with his mom,’ Womeldorf said.

This information has put off maybe one or two buyers, he said, “It’s been a non-issue.”

Cabot Wade, a musician who gave Hinckley guitar lessons, said he never felt that Hinckley was violent or dangerous.

The doctors have testified in hearings that Hinckley’s psychosis and major depression have reduced for decades and that he still may have a narcissistic personality disorder, the effects of it have lessened. According to psychological tests, Hinckley’s dangerousness risk is “decidedly low”.