John Hinckley Jr. says no shows planned, apologizes for shooting

John Hinckley Jr. won’t be performing any time soon.

The man who shot President Ronald Reagan in an assassination attempt said that his three canceled performances in Brooklyn, Chicago and Connecticut won’t be rescheduled for the “foreseeable future.”

“I don’t know anybody else who’s certainly had a life like I’ve had,” Hinckley said on “CBS Mornings.” “I mean, what I tell people now, if you want to get to know John Hinckley, listen to his songs.”

The 67-year-old has expressed an ambition to be a singer/songwriter and to perform on tour, but his scheduled performances were canceled due to safety concerns. 

During his first television interview since his unconditional release earlier this month, Hinckley told CBS News’ chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett that he has “true remorse” for the assassination attempt 41 years ago.

He publicly apologized to the families of his shooting victims, and to Jodie Foster “for bringing her into this.”

“I know [the victims] probably can’t forgive me now, but I just want them to know that I am sorry for what I did,” Hinckley said.”

On March 30, 2981, then-25-year-old Hinckley brought a .22 caliber revolver to the Washington Hilton and carried out the shooting as President Reagan walked to this limousine. 

He fired six shots, and struck Reagan in the chest. Press secretary James Brady was paralyzed and died from his injuries decades later. Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy and police officer Thomas Delahanty suffered bullet wounds.

Hinckley said he was motivated by a delusional obsession to impress actress Jodie Foster, and he believed his mental illness prevented him from knowing right from wrong.

“I did not have a good heart. I was doing things that a good person wouldn’t do,” he told Garrett.

Hinckley also admitted he has no recollection of what he was feeling at the moment.

“It was all just so traumatic,” he said. 

He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent more than 30 years at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C.

“I’ve been the most scrutinized person in the entire mental health system for 41 years,” he told CBS.

Hinckley told Garrett he was sorry for traumatizing the nation and he wanted to show people he’s an “ordinary guy.”

“If I could take it all back, I would,” he said.

Hinckley is the only person who has shot a US president and was freed.