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Hinckley release a hot topic in Williamsburg

Friday, July 29, 2016 - 01:58

With mixed emotions, residents of Williamsburg, Virginia prepare for the release and arrival of the man who shot President Ronald Reagan, John Hinckley Jr. Jillian Kitchener reports.

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This gated community is where attempted assassin John Hinckley Jr. will soon live full time. ...Hinckley shot and wounded President Ronald Reagan, along with three others, in 1981. A federal judge has ruled Hinckley no longer poses a danger to the public... and can be released from St Elizabeth's psychiatric hospital to live with his 90-year-old mother Jo Ann Hinckley, in Williamsburg. Her neighbor, Joe Mann says his release is a mistake. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE MANN, RESIDENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HINCKLEY WILL BE LIVING, SAYING: "He has been deceptive. He has lied about his presence, his whereabouts. He has gone against the marching orders he's given, been in places he's not supposed to be. And that's a concern to me." And among residents, he's not alone. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEREMY EVERETT, WILLIAMSBURG AREA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I think it's ridiculous. REPORTER, SAYING: "Why?" JEREMY EVERETT, WILLIAMSBURG AREA RESIDENT, SAYING: "I just, I mean he tried to kill the president, and we're just going to say everything's okay and let him go." Hinckley's release is a hot topic in Williamsburg. But local forensic psychotherapist Brent Peterson is supportive. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRENT PETERSON, FORENSIC PSYCHOTHERAPIST, SAYING: "What we're really looking at and what we're really seeing is some individual who's been highly scrutinized, who's going to be watched like a hawk as he comes into the community..." Hinckley has already made scores of unsupervised visits with his family.. Court documents say he has engaged in community activities, like bowling, exercising and volunteering at a local library in an effort to socialize. ..and for many residents that's good enough. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DON WELSH, WILLIAMSBURG RESIDENT, SAYING: "I think he's just trying to live his life. I'm not too worried about it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIANE GUIFFRE (PRONOUNCE GUFF-REE), WILLIAMSBURG RESIDENT, SAYING: "As long as he's well, he can be out. But you'd better be very careful." And Williamsburg will be watchful as John Hinckley, the man who tried to kill a president, returns to society.