</s>10-49591 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RECORDS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM NOR ADDED TO THIS FILE WITHOUT APPROVAL OF THE RECORDS ADVINSTRATION OFFICIE By order of the Attorney General THIS FILE HAS BEEN CHARGED AS INDICATED BELOW C Division Date Issued Returned REPORTING CENTER. Requested by Countee 5541 man (R) 7-6-77 TO TRANSFER FILES 3241 Kewel Ross 2113 main Coma 5-16-78 2-2-84 11-41-68-1-24-69 SECTION 4 Call 166-12-1 3241

Summary  
On June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California primary election. The perpetrator, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, fired multiple shots, critically wounding Kennedy with a bullet to the brain and another in his shoulder. Other casualties included Paul Schrade (scalp wound), William Weisel (abdominal wounds), Mrs. Elizabeth Evans (leg wound and scalp laceration), Erwin Stoll (foot wound), and Ira Goldstein (back and leg wounds). Kennedy was transported to Los Angeles Central Receiving Hospital and later to a nearby hospital for surgery, where neurosurgeons removed fragmented bullet fragments from his brain.  

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was arrested at the scene and booked under "John Doe" with assault with intent to commit murder charges. Medical examinations revealed he had a fractured left finger, a swollen left ankle (possibly sprained), contusions, and minor abrasions. His incarceration at Los Angeles County Jail involved restricted access to electronic devices, limited visits from his attorney or physician, and monitoring through a glass window.  

Fingerprint records indicated Sirhan’s prints were previously submitted in 1965 when he applied for an exercise boy position via the California State Horse Racing Board. The weapon used was a .22 caliber Iver Johnson revolver, serial number H53725, sold on August 10, 1965, to Albert Leslie Herztz by Pasadena Gun Shop Inc. The gun was later traced through multiple owners to Munir Sirhan, who worked at Nash’s Department Store in Pasadena.  

Personal effects found on Sirhan included cash (Federal Reserve notes with serial numbers), a silver car key, a song sheet referencing RFK’s campaign, newspaper clippings about Kennedy, and photographs of the items. Handwritten materials discovered in his room expressed intent to assassinate RFK, Ambassador Goldberg, and other political figures; advocated for overthrowing the U.S. government; and referenced his brother’s death in a horse-riding accident in 1966.  

Sirhan’s family background includes a father who left Palestine for Jordan in 1957, returned to the U.S. in 1959, and later resided in Pasadena with his mother, siblings (including ADEL, Sharif, Munir, Saidallah, and sister Ayda), and legal status as an immigrant under INS records. His brother ADEL identified him at a police station, noting Sirhan’s prior employment as an exercise boy and head injury from a horse fall in 1966, which allegedly altered his behavior.  

The FBI initiated liaison with LAPD in June 1968 following White House instructions to involve federal agencies in the investigation. Interviews with Sirhan’s family members described his injuries from a horse fall in 1966, political views against Zionists, and lack of known associates. FBI efforts included obtaining media footage of the shooting, reviewing Selective Service records for Sirhan, and addressing threats against his family. Medical updates on RFK noted potential permanent brain damage but survival was deemed likely.  

Key People  
- Robert F. Kennedy (victim)  
- Sirhan Bishara Sirhan (assassin)  
- Dr. Forrest L. Johnson (medical examiner assessing Sirhan in 1967)  
- Dr. Dleori (reported Sirhan’s full recovery by December 1967)  
- Ronald R. Huntley (RFK’s bodyguard in Oregon; identified a suspect at the Benson Hotel)  
- ADEL Bishara Sirhan, Munir Bishara Sirhan (brothers of Sirhan; provided details about his employment and personal life)  
- Mary Bishara Sirhan (mother of Sirhan; described his background and lack of motive)  
- Pierre Salinger, Theodore Sorensen (RFK representatives; provided updates on RFK’s medical condition)  

Key Locations  
- Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles (shooting location)  
- Los Angeles County Central Jail (Sirhan’s incarceration)  
- Pasadena, California (Sirhan’s family residence and employment)  
- Sacramento, California (fingerprint records from 1965)  
- Norco, California (medical insurance claim for horse fall injury)  
- Portland, Oregon (site of Huntley’s encounter with a suspect at the Benson Hotel)  

Key Events  
- June 5, 1968: Sirhan Bishara Sirhan shot RFK at the Ambassador Hotel; casualties included multiple individuals.  
- June 5–6, 1968: FBI efforts to obtain media footage of the shooting, including film from CBS and coordination with NBC.  
- June 1968: FBI initiated liaison with LAPD following White House instructions to involve federal agencies in the RFK assassination investigation.  
- Medical updates on RFK: Pierre Salinger reported potential permanent brain damage but survival was deemed likely.  
- Threats against Sirhan’s family: Pasadena police noted numerous telephone threats registered by members of the Sirhan family.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted interviews, coordinated with LAPD, and gathered evidence including medical records and media footage.  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD): Provided updates on RFK’s condition, secured Sirhan’s residence, and monitored threats against his family.  
- Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS): Documented Sirhan’s legal status as an immigrant.  
- Argonaut Insurance Company: Paid Sirhan $2,000 in disability compensation for a horse-related injury.  
- Selective Service System: Checked for Sirhan’s draft registration records.  
- Department of Justice: Addressed correspondence regarding the trial of Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.

RFK Declassified Files

166-12c-1_section_4-part_1_of_3.pdf

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