Jay Killian

Jay Killian is the protagonist of the 1987 film Assassination. Killian was played by Charles Bronson, who also played the role of Paul Kersey in the Death Wish series of movies.

Killian had been married prior to the events in the film, however by the time the film took place he was divorced. Due to his wife's bugging of their home phone he was forced to employ creative measures in order to have private conversations - which would later come in handy with his job. When the judge found out that his ex-wife had several affairs Killian was let off the hook for providing alimony.

As inauguration day nears Killian returned to duty after having been on medical leave for the past six months. He was someone upset that his assignment was to protect the new First Lady Lara Royce Craig instead of being on the Presidential detail. Craig was noted for her difficult personality, with other agents warning Killian that he was going to "miss the hell out of Nancy Reagan."

In the first months of the inauguration Killian found it aggravating to work with Craig as she routinely ignored protocols designed to protect her. Craig for her part thought the security measures excessive as First Ladies to date had not been targets for assassins. Craig eventually developed a respect for Killian as his instincts proved sound in the wake of several attempts to kill her.

Craig eventually slipped out of Washington, fearing for her safety. Killian accompanied her across the United States, acting as her guardian. Killian thwarted several assassination attempts against the First Lady while the two were enroute to Nevada. It was during their trip that Craig revealed the marriage was one of convenience and not one of love. The plan was that later Craig would be free to divorce her husband.

Killian realized that Senator Hector Bunsen was trying to have Craig assassinated. As a divorced man the President might not be able to win reelection, but being a widower would make his reelection much more likely. Killian was able to deal with all the assassins trying to murder Craig. Bunsen was confronted in a Washington office building. In a struggle Bunsen fell through a glass elevator window and plunged to his death.

Following these events Killian was promoted to the Presidential protection detail, and was relieved that he would not have to deal with Craig as much.