1994 White House shooting

1994 shooting in Washington, D.C., U.S. January 2026 January 2026 White House, Washington D.C., U.S. 1994 10 29 1:45 p.m. Bill Clinton Attempted assassination Type 56 semi-automatic rifle 0 0 Francisco Martin Duran thumb|upright|Official portrait of Bill Clinton, 1993 On October 29, 1994, U.S. president Bill Clinton was targeted in a shooting by Francisco Martin Duran on the White House in Washington, D.C.. Background Francisco Martin Duran, a 26-year-old from New Mexico, had a history of legal issues. He had served in the U.S. Army but was court-martialed and found guilty of drunk driving, aggravated assault, drunken and disorderly conduct, and leaving 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 by conspiracy theories and extremist ideologies.Rimer Sara Few Knew of White House Suspect's Turmoil https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/07/us/few-knew-of-white-house-suspect-s-turmoil.html 3 May 2021 The New York Times 7 November 1994 He was released after two and a half years in 1993.Francisco Martin Duran https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/francisco-martin-duran 2025-07-24 PBS News en-us Attempt On October 29, 1994, Duran drove to Washington, D.C., and positioned himself on a public sidewalk across the street from the White House. At approximately 1:45 PM, he began firing 7.62×39mm rounds from a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle at the building, shooting a total of 29 rounds. Duran aimed at tourists – in particular one whose hair resembled Clinton's – at the North Lawn, which was the side facing Pennsylvania Avenue. At the time of the attack, Clinton was inside the White House watching a football 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.Wehle 2024-08-02 Lessons from a forgotten presidential assassination attempt https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/4805986-lessons-from-a-forgotten-presidential-assassination-attempt/ https://web.archive.org/web/20240823165155/https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/4805986-lessons-from-a-forgotten-presidential-assassination-attempt/ 2024-08-23 2025-07-24 The Hill en-US Kimberly Aftermath Duran was arrested and charged with attempted murder, as well as multiple counts of assault 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., who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan, had been found not 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.Press The Associated 1995-06-30 Court Sentences Man to 40 Years For Trying to Kill the President https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/30/us/court-sentences-man-to-40-years-for-trying-to-kill-the-president.html 2025-07-24 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 See also 2011 White House shooting List of United States presidential assassination attempts and plots References Category:Attacks on the White House Category:Bill Clinton Clinton, Bill Category:October 1994 crimes in the United States Category:1994 in Washington, D.C.