</s>LA 55-156 She stated that she could not tell whether the unknown female she saw was wearing a polka dot dress. She advised that she did not see anyone she knew at the Ambassador Hotel on June 1, 1958, she witnessed the shooting or who could furnish any pertinent information concerning the events leading up to the shooting. - 194 -

The document contains fragmented witness accounts and investigative reports detailing events surrounding Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. Multiple witnesses described chaotic scenes in the hotel lobby, kitchen area, and pressroom, including gunshots, confusion, and unauthorized access to restricted spaces. James Cummings, an employee at Falk General Laboratories, reported hearing three gunshots with a one-second interval near the Embassy Room service pantry but did not see the shooter. CBS News crew members William Deimer, Matt Douglas, and Walter Dombrows filmed Kennedy’s speech in the ballroom and observed chaos after the shooting, noting a woman bleeding from the head being escorted out. John J. Doohan, a journalist, described Kennedy exiting the Embassy Room through a hallway connected to the ballroom and saw an assailant wearing a blue sweatshirt and dark hair. Alishair Cookie reported interactions with security guards and confusion in the pantry area, while Richard Cohen identified SIRIHAN BISHARA as the shooter after witnessing five shots fired from a black gun. IRA GOLDSEIN, shot in the foot, was carried out by men following the shooting. Ted Charach noted bumper stickers promoting conspiracy theories near the hotel and linked Gabor Kadar to Middle Eastern assassination plots. William Epridge, a *Life* magazine photographer, described six shots fired during Kennedy’s speech, Kennedy collapsing, and efforts to clear the area for medical personnel. Administrative notes from the FBI reference loaned records and warnings about distribution restrictions.  

Key People  
- **Robert F. Kennedy (Senator)**: Assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968.  
- **SIRIHAN BISHARA**: Identified by multiple witnesses as the shooter, including Richard Cohen and John J. Doohan.  
- **IRA GOLDSEIN**: Shot in the foot and carried out of the hotel by men after the shooting.  
- **James Cummings**: Employee at Falk General Laboratories who heard gunshots near the Embassy Room service pantry.  
- **William Deimer, Matt Douglas, Walter Dombrows**: CBS News crew members filming Kennedy’s speech and witnessing post-shooting chaos.  
- **John J. Doohan**: Journalist who described Kennedy being shot while exiting the Embassy Room through a hallway.  
- **Alishair Cookie**: Reported interactions with security guards and confusion in the pantry area.  
- **Gabor Kadar**: Identified as a witness to the shooting, linked to Middle Eastern conspiracy theories.  
- **Erwin Stroll**: Injured during the event at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4, 1968.  
- **William Epridge**: *Life* magazine photographer who counted six shots fired during Kennedy’s speech.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of the assassination and witness accounts, including the ballroom, Embassy Room, pressroom, and service pantry.  
- **Falk General Laboratories, Los Angeles**: Cummings’ workplace near the hotel.  
- **Colonial Room (Press Room)**: Mentioned as a location where witnesses were questioned.  
- **Good Samaritan Hospital**: Where a witness attempted to visit after leaving the hotel.  
- **Time and Life Building, New York**: Location of Epridge’s interview with FBI agents.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **Gunshot incidents**: Multiple witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the hotel lobby, kitchen area, and pressroom, with varying counts (three to six shots).  
- **Post-assassination chaos**: Confusion, crowd surges, and unauthorized access to restricted areas, including the pantry room.  
- **Witness accounts**: Descriptions of the shooter as a young man with dark hair and a blue sweatshirt, or an unidentified individual led out by police.  
- **Medical response**: Efforts to clear the area for ambulance attendants and transport Kennedy to medical facilities.  
- **Conspiracy theories**: Distribution of bumper stickers promoting JFK assassination plots near the hotel.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations, collected witness statements, and issued administrative warnings about document distribution.  
- **CBS News**: Covered the event through multiple witnesses, including Deimer, Douglas, Dombrows, and Jim Wilson’s film crew.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department**: Mentioned in accounts of securing the scene and managing crowds.  
- **Kennedy campaign**: Involved in distributing bumper stickers and managing events at the hotel.  
- **Life Magazine**: Employed William Epridge as a photographer during Kennedy’s campaign.

RFK Declassified Files

166-12c-1_serial_2_62_hq_587_section_1-la-report_8.7.68-part_5_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search