Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a person—especially if prominent or important.[1][2] It may be prompted by grievances, notoriety, financial, military, political or other motives. Many times governments and criminal groups order assassinations to be committed by their accomplices. Acts of assassination have been performed since ancient times. A person who carries out an assassination is called an assassin or hitman.
^Black's Law Dictionary "the act of deliberately killing someone especially a public figure, usually for money or for political reasons" (Legal Research, Analysis and Writing by William H. Putman p. 215 and Assassination Policy Under International LawArchived December 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Harvard International Review, May 6, 2006, by Kristen Eichensehr).