Man who shot Ronald Reagan says ‘violence is not the way to go’ following Trump assassination attempt

In a post on X following the attempted assassination, Hinckley did not directly reference the incident with Trump, but he simply called for non-violence and peace in America.

“Violence is not the way to go. Give peace a chance,” Hinckley wrote.

Hinckley was confined to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC, for around 34 years after his attempted assassination of President Reagan. He was granted unconditional release in June 2022. In an earlier interview with 10 On Your Side, Hinckley discussed how he changed his life after his release.

“I had a lot of therapy,” Hinckley said. “I had a lot of time outside on the grounds. I developed a cat colony at the hospital when I was out on my grounds privileges. I took care of a bunch of cats and they helped me get through my day.”

The attempted killing of Trump resulted in the presidential front-runner being injured after a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear. The shooting also tragically led to the death of a former firefighter who was shielding his family from the incoming fire and critically wounded two other individuals.