Assassination attempts have been carried out since antiquity, and not everyone has been so lucky as to survive. Just look at how many Roman emperors fell victim to the sword, knife, or poison. In fact, most assassinations are politically motivated, with presidents, prime ministers, and members of royalty all having been targeted throughout history. But some killings remain senseless and inexplicable, those of musicians for example, or advocates for peace and equality.
Click through for a gruesome timeline of victims of assassinations, and the murderers that hit their mark.