Hinckley Seeking Unescorted Trip
WASHINGTON — John W. Hinckley Jr., who shot President Reagan in 1981, is seeking permission from a federal court to leave a mental hospital for an unescorted Easter visit with his parents, the Secret Service said Friday.
If granted, the April 19 visit would be Hinckley’s first without a hospital escort since he was placed in St. Elizabeths mental hospital in June, 1982.
A hearing on the request is scheduled for April 13 in U.S. District Court, Richard Adams, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said.
The Secret Service, angered by Hinckley’s 12-hour escorted visit with his parents on Dec. 28, will fight to prevent the visit, Adams said.
CBS News reported Friday that St. Elizabeths had recommended that Hinckley be allowed to travel to Colorado to visit his parents. The Secret Service could not confirm or deny that the trip would be to Colorado, and U.S. Atty. Joseph E. diGenova said he had no idea what the hospital was proposing.
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