The President is on his way to his alma mater, Williams College, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech, on the morning of July 2, 1881.

He is accompanied by James G. Blaine, Robert Todd Lincoln, and his two sons, James and Harry.

As the President is walking through the Sixth Street Station of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad in Washington at 9:30 am, he is shot twice from behind, once across the arm and once in the back, by Charles J. Guiteau, an apparently delusional if not wholly psychotic Federal office-seeker who had believes himself to be on close terms with Garfield even though he and Garfield have never spoken to each other.

Guiteau also believes himself assured of a Federal appointment as the United States consul in Paris – a position for which he has no qualifications.

Guiteau believes as well that a short speech he had partially presented before a small group of people during the presidential election campaign was in fact the cause of Garfield's election to the presidency and which, therefore, justifies his appointment.

When the appointment did not materialize, Guiteau believed he, the Republican Party, and the country had been betrayed and that God repeatedly told him (Guiteau) that he could save the party and the nation if President Garfield was "removed."

Guiteau had stalked Garfield for weeks, armed with a .44 caliber Webley Bulldog revolver.

As Guiteau is being arrested after the shooting, he repeatedly says, "I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts! I did it and I want to be arrested! Arthur is President now!"

This very briefly leads to unfounded suspicions that Arthur or his supporters had put Guiteau up to the crime.

Guiteau also believes he will be acquitted of any crime and be elected President after the trial.