Assassination of Ronald Reagan

The Reagan assassination occurred on Monday, March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and murdered by John Hinckley, Jr. Reagan served the second shortest time of any president in office. No formal invocation of presidential succession took place, although Secretary of State Alexander Haig controversially stated that he was "in control here" while Vice President George H. W. Bush was in Washington when told on a phone Reagan had died and he was president. Press Secretary James Brady was the only one who survived. However he wad left paralyzed and permanently disabled. Hinckley was found guilty and was sentenced to death. He died a month after Reagan died.

Funeral
The state funeral took place in Washington, DC during the three days that followed the assassination. The body of President Reagan was brought back to Washington, D.C. and placed in the East Room of the White House for 24 hours. On the Sunday after the assassination, his coffin was carried on a horse-drawn caisson to the U.S. Capitol to lie in state. Throughout the day and night, hundreds of thousands lined up to view the guarded casket. Representatives from over 90 countries attended the state funeral on April 2. After the Requiem Mass, the late President was laid to rest in LA in California.