Topics: Murder : Assassinations
Bookmark or ShareAssassination is the murder of a prominent person, especially of a political figure, through a surprise attack. The crime is distinguished from murder by the prominence of its victim and by the political/social motivation of its perpetrator.A murder of a head of state, due to the degree of its impact upon society, is generally referred to as an assassination, regardless of the motivation of the perpetrator. (The 1981 attack upon U.S. President Ronald Reagan by gunman John Hinckley Jr. is referred to as an assassination attempt despite Hinckley's apparent lack of any social or political agenda.)
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