White House Shooter Riled About Pot Law: Prosecutors

Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez practiced for 6 months: new document
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 2, 2013 12:35 PM CDT
White House Shooter Riled About Pot Law: Prosecutors
This image provided by the US Park Police shows an undated image of Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez.   (AP Photo/US Park Police)

Prosecutors believe Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, who was arrested after allegedly shooting the White House in 2011, may have been motivated by his unhappiness with US marijuana policy, the AP reports. The Idaho 22-year-old "expressed anger toward the government regarding the continued criminalization of marijuana," they say in a newly filed court document. He wanted "to punish and kill the president, who he believed was the head of a government that was oppressing its citizens in various ways," they add.

They also say Ortega-Hernandez practiced firing the assault rifle used in the attack at a "desolate crater" near his Idaho home for six months, shooting at things like a VCR, a stereo speaker and amplifier, and an empty ammo case, according to a witness. Ortega-Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to attempted assassination and other charges, and is awaiting trial. (More Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez stories.)

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