James Brady, President Ronald Reagan\'s press secretary, was shot in the head in 1981. He died Monday and now D.C. Police say they are investigating his death as a homicide.
Reagan Brady President-elect Ronald Reagan, right, introduces James Brady as his press secretary in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1981. (AP Photo/Zebowski)
AP Photo/Zebowski
FILE - This March 30, 1981 file photo shows a U.S. secret service agent with an automatic weapon watches over James Brady, the president's secretary, after being wounded in an attempt on the life of President Ronald Reagan in Washington. A Washington, D.C. policeman, Thomas Delahanty, lies to the left after also being shot. A Brady family spokeswoman says Brady has died at 73. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
AP Photo/Ron Edmonds
Brady FILE - This Jan. 6, 1981 file photo shows James Brady, selected by president-elect Ronald Reagan to become his press secretary, talking to reporters after the announcement was made in Washington. Brady, the affable, witty press secretary who survived a devastating head wound in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan and undertook a personal crusade for gun control, died one year ago on this date. He was 73. (AP Photo/Walt Zebowski, File)
WASHINGTON – D.C. Police tell WTOP that they are investigating James Brady’s death as a homicide, three decades after he was shot in the head outside of a D.C. hotel.
The Virginia Medical Examiner ruled that Brady died from the injuries he suffered during the assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan in March 1981.
Brady, who at the time was Reagan’s press secretary, survived the shooting. He died Monday at an Alexandria retirement community.
John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel just two months into the new president’s term. Reagan nearly died from a chest wound. Three others, including Brady, were struck by bullets from Hinckley’s handgun.
The shooting left Brady paralyzed and permanently disabled.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is named in his honor.
Hinckley remains institutionalized however he is allowed to visit his mother in Virginia.
