Drive-By Shooting or Assassination Attempt?

Past assassination attempts have been more clear- cut. In 1975, Manson family member Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, was immediately subdued and arrested when she pointed a M1911A1.45 Colt semi-automatic pistol at President Gerald Ford. The firing chamber was empty but there was no question of who held the gun and who it was being aimed at. Fromme received a life sentence but was released in 2009. John Hinckley has been under institutional psychiatric care since his trial for the 1981 shooting of President Reagan. In 2005, Vladimir Arutyunian threw a hand grenade at President George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Arutyunian's DNA was matched to DNA on the handkerchief that the grenade was wrapped in and he subsequently received a life sentence, despite the fact that the hand grenade failed to go off.

In each of these cases, it is clear that the goal was to assassinate a political leader. However, Ortega's case is not as transparent. Witnesses reportedly heard gunshots near the White House on November 11, 2011 and later an AK-47 was founding in an abandoned Honda Accord near Memorial Bridge. Days passed before a bullet was discovered on the second floor of White House where the first family resides. The bullet was lodged between the outer glass and a bulletproof layer on the window.

It's true that Ortega drove all the way from his home in Idaho to a location near the shooting. It's also true that Ortega is listed as one of the owners of the abandoned vehicle and that he had previously purchased the AK-47 that was found in the car from a private party. Furthermore, Ortega had been taken in earlier on the day of the shooting for suspicious behavior and Arlington County, Virginia police had photographed him wearing a black hooded jacket with the “LA” logo on it. Ortega was released but the jacket was later found in the abandoned Honda. He was also on probation in Idaho Falls, Idaho at the time of the shootings and has had a number of legal runs-ins concerning drugs, underage drinking, and resisting arrest.

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Also, there is no questioning that Ortega harbored hatred toward President Obama as several witnesses have attested to the fact that he referred to the president as “the devil” and “the anti-Christ.”

In fact, there is little doubt that Ortega, who has not yet entered a plea, has deeper insight into the case than he has revealed thus far. However, proving that he intended to assassinate the president or his family is going to be difficult to prove.

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According to Ortega's court appointed attorney, David Bos, witnesses have failed to identify Ortega. Also one witness reported that the car driving by the White House was dark-colored while another said it was red. Bos also pointed out that there is no proof that the bullet had entered the window on the night in question.

Furthermore, if Ortega did indeed shoot at the White House, there is no proof that he intended to hit anyone inside. “It's basically a drive-by shooting at the White House,” said Washington lawyer Eric A. Dubelier.

There is no telling how this case will pan out in court. During the Clinton administration, Francisco Martin Duran was sentenced to 40-years in prison for attempting to assassinate President Clinton, among other charges. Like Ortega, he shot at the White House. However, unlike Ortega, he aimed at a man outside who he believed to be Clinton. There were certainly questions surrounding Duran's mental health and there is a strong chance that Ortega's attorneys will use his mental health in his defense as well, should he plead guilty.

As it stands right now, Ortega is to remain in jail and will undergo a mental competency examination prior to his next hearing on November 28th.