Could, and Should, John Hinckley Jr. Be Charged With Murder in James Brady's Death?

Chris Amico — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 11:54:58 -0400

John Hinckley, Jr. Mugshot" by United States Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI Field Office Washington. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

When James Brady, the former press secretary wounded in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, died this week at age 73, it opened the possibility that John Hinckley Jr. could be charged with murder.

A jury acquitted Hinckley for the original shooting, finding him not guilty by reason of insanity. He remains institutionalized at St. Elizabeths psychiatric hospital. He has not yet been charged in Brady's death.

Below, analysts consider the legal issues surrounding any possible prosecution:

Former Presidential Press Secretary James Brady's Death Ruled a Homicide

Megan Arellano — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:41:29 -0400

James-Brady-August-2-2006" by Shealah Craighead. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

James Brady, 73, died Monday as a result of a gunshot wound sustained during the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, MPD announced Friday.

An autopsy determined the cause of death to be "a gunshot wound and consequences thereof," and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the press release.

After his injuries in 1981, Brady became an advocate for handgun control. In 1993, The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was passed, instituting new federal regulations on firearm purchasers.

Brady's death will be counted as a 2014 homicide, bringing the year's official count to 71. (For more, see How Homicides are Counted.)

His assailant, John Hinckley Jr., remains institutionalized at St. Elizabeths psychiatric hospital, where he has been held since a jury found him not guilty of the assassination attempt by reason of insanity, though he could now be charged with Brady's murder.

The full press release from MPD is below:

Death of James Brady Ruled Homicide Due to 1981 Shooting

(Washington, DC)- Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced today that the death of former Presidential Press Secretary 73-year-old James Brady has been ruled a homicide related to the 1981 shooting.

On Monday, March 30, 1981, at approximately 2:25 pm, while President Ronald Reagan was exiting the Washington Hilton Hotel, a gunman fired multiple shots. President Reagan was struck by a bullet that ricocheted off his limousine. Press Secretary Brady was also struck by a bullet. Additionally, a United States Secret Service agent and an MPD officer were also shot.

The suspect, John Hinckley Jr., was immediately subdued by additional MPD officers and members of the United States Secret Service. Hinckley was charged with the attempted assassination of the President of the United States, in addition to other charges related to the shooting.

On Monday, August 4, 2014, at approximately 10:40 am, at his residence in Alexandria, Virginia, Mr. James Brady succumbed to his injuries sustained in the 1981 shooting and was pronounced dead.

His remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Northern District of Virginia. An autopsy was conducted and revealed the cause of death to be a gunshot wound and consequences thereof, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Mr. Brady’s death brings the number of criminal homicides for 2014 to 71.

Members of Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are reviewing this case.

James Brady | Homicide Watch DC

Could, and Should, John Hinckley Jr. Be Charged With Murder in James Brady's Death?

Former Presidential Press Secretary James Brady's Death Ruled a Homicide