| Attempted assassination of Bill Clinton | |
|---|---|
| Location | White House,Washington D.C., U.S. |
| Date | October 29, 1994; 31 years ago (1994-10-29) c. 1:45 p.m. |
| Target | Bill Clinton |
Attack type | Attemptedassassination |
| Weapon | Type 56semi-automatic rifle |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Francisco Martin Duran |
On October 29, 1994, then-U.S. presidentBill Clinton was targeted in a shooting byFrancisco Martin Duran on theWhite House inWashington, D.C..
Francisco Martin Duran, a 26-year-old fromNew Mexico, had a history of legal issues. He had served in the U.S. Army but wascourt-martialed and found guilty ofdrunk driving,aggravated assault,drunken and disorderly conduct, andleaving the scene of an accident after he had gotten drunk with his friends and started an argument with civilians, after which he drove his car and ran into a woman he had sparred with. Duran held anti-government sentiments and was reportedly influenced byconspiracy theories andextremist ideologies.[1] He was released after two and a half years in 1993.[2]
On October 29, 1994, Duran drove toWashington, D.C., and positioned himself on a public sidewalk across the street from theWhite House. At approximately 1:45 PM, he began firing7.62×39mm rounds from aType 56semi-automatic rifle at the building, shooting a total of 29 rounds. Duran aimed at tourists – in particular one whose hair resembled Clinton's – at theNorth Lawn, which was the side facingPennsylvania Avenue. At the time of the attack, Clinton was inside the White House watching afootball game, and he was not in the immediate vicinity of the windows that were being targeted and as such was not harmed.Secret Service agents apprehended Duran after a brief standoff.[3]
Duran was arrested and charged withattempted murder, as well as multiple counts ofassault with a deadly weapon. Duran's defense team argued that he was not criminally responsible for his actions due to mental illness. The prosecution argued that Duran was fully aware of the nature of his actions and had deliberately attempted to kill Clinton. Previously,John Hinckley Jr., whoattempted to assassinateRonald Reagan, had been foundnot guilty by reason of insanity and spared a harsh punishment. Nonetheless, the jury found Duran guilty and he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.[4][3]
