(8-18-2014) Robin Williams’ suicide touched a wide swath and judging from the number of emails that I received, those of us who deal with mental illnesses felt especially compelled to comment. But while Williams’ death saddened me, it was a less noticed news item last week that alarmed me.
Federal prosecutors announced they were considering filing new charges against would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley Jr. after a Virginia medical examiner ruled that former White House press Secretary James Brady’s recent death was a homicide.
Hinckley shot Brady while trying to kill President Ronald Reagan in 1981 outside a Washington D.C. hotel. However, Brady didn’t die until earlier this month while living in a Virginia retirement home. He was 73 years old.