Transcript of 166-12c-1_serial_2_62_hq_587_section_1-la-report_8.7.68-part_6_of_7_v3.pdf
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NY 44-1640
did not see the shooting; the gun;
SIRHAN SIRFIAN; or SIRHIAN SIRHAN being subdued
has seen pictures of SIRHAN SIRHAN and
he 18 not familiar t0 hin.
is of the opinion that the taken
by Senator KSNNED in leaving the_platform was not the
planned route of ezit 88 13 Nh0 handled such things
had indicated a t0' Senator KENNEDY ' € right off the
platforn.
This was 'the biggest crowd of the carpaign_
Usually in entering or leaving 8 crowd , Senator" KENNEDY
would Zo right through the thickest part On this occagion,
before entering the ballrooni; Senator KENNEDY asked B
if there was a backway in This was the first tine
tha t can recall Senator KENNEDY going in the
beckway .
Also in leaving the backway , p thinks
that Senator KEMIDY may have becn tired or probably he
wanted to to "The Factory" where he was going to give
2 party for his staff and the pre8s .
heard of no threats a8 t0 Senator KENNEDY ' s
life, but he was fearful that sone thing might heppen to hin
as he (Senator KENNEDY ) would hinself in dangerous
gituations 'That i8 he night fall out of the car or sone
such thing_ A few Necks before this, Senator KENNEDY chipped
altooth in a crowd .
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
7/1/58
Staff Photographer Aegociated
Press
advised a9 follows:
At approsimately 8:00
P . June 4 , 1968, he went
t? the Ambaggador Hotel to cover Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY
Several hours before the epeech by KENNEDY in the Embagey
Rozin ne took up a position on the televigion ctand at the
back 3f the ballroon He heard Senator IZNNEDY epea and
saw KZNNEDY move to hie left, then to hie
9
KENNEDY 8 right ,
and finally depa rt the area through 8Ome
curtaing imediately
to the rear of the platforin A minute or tmo arter that
he hea rd eone balloone popping and at that cime he etarted
t? load hie camera
He then hea rd gone screaming and called to one of
the caieramen on the television platform, naie unre called ,
to eee if he Iinew Jhat Ta : going and this individual
II stated , i8 a fight He obeerved a lot of confueion
at the main door of
the bailroom
at which time he climbed
on to the stand but could not see any fight taking place
He then managed to mare hie way over to the ballroom doore
# #here ne heard sOeone state gomeone ehot KENNEDY Due
to the large crowd in the
bailroom
he could not any
closer to the ecene of the action. He tried t0 make hie
way behind the platform but he was unsuccessful in doing
thie
He then gar hie partner, W JR_
'>
who
wa: aleo in the ballroom covering KENNEDY rrom a cloge poeition.
He ga ve hie film tj FONG and then exited the ballroom and
proceeded to a rear entrance There he thought he could take a
photograph of KENNZDY being moved to the noepital When ne
arrived at the entrance he observed several anbulancee, but
ne did not see the Senator He asked one o2 the policemen
present whether Senator KENNEDY had been removed and he wae
told that he had been
On
5/28453_
at Loe Angelee California File # Los Angeles E6-156_
245
by SA Laa
Date dictated
71/68
This documont contains neither recommendations nor conclusiong of the FBL. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outgide your agency.
m.,
on,
"there
get
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2
CA 55-156
He then fent back into the notel where he aga in
gam who was uneucceseful in taking the Ciln bacl to the
office He retrieved the filo Ihich he had previouely given
to and gave it to Los Angelee Times Reporter,
who atated he would take the film to the office via taxi
etated that he did not 8ee Senator KENNEDY
at any time fOlloring the Senator'8 epeech nor did he obeerve
a female caucasian wearing a polka dot drees either in the
ballroom or in the hotel at any time during the evening
246
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
1 Date
31/68
JR., Staff Phatog zapher Agsociated
Press , 202 Weet Firet street,
advised a2 follore :
At approrimately 8:23 p . June 4, 1958, he
nent to the Ambaesador Hotel to cover Senatoz KENNEDY and
he took up a position approrimately three to five feet to
tne Senator' € left on the platform of' the Zmbaeey Room at
the Ambassador Hotel when the Senator spoke there From that
poeition he took several close shots 0f the Senator as well
a2 8 Jmle ehots of the ballroom crowd Juet before the end of
the speech When Senatoz KENNEDY made his "V" for victory @ign,
he climbed off of the platform and went to the door
Leading to the kitchen area where he sat Jn a table located
there He did not follow the Senator int? the kitchen pagsage -
way nor did ne hear any shots or unusual sounds just after
the Senator entered that area Approzimately tw? or three
minutes after the Senator left the platiorn he obgerved a
large Wave of people coming toward himn and Ta 2 pughed back
int? the Embagey Rooml Several people etated that a ecurfle
Kae in progreee and he later heara that KENNEDY waf ghot He
then eaw two ma
ie
caucaeiang, who he agsumed to -be aides of
Senator KENNEDY, block off the door leading into the kitchen
pageageray .
In the enjuing confueion ne Tandered around until
he eaw hie pa rtner p at Ihich tine p gave
him gone film to rcturn t3 the ortice He then observed
a femnale caucaeian khoin he later learned to be
etretcned out on a table approzimately firteen to twenty feet
from che kitchen doors In the Embaesy Room He aeked eomeone
pregent what had happened and wa & told that she had been hurt
in the ecuffle He obeerved that she had a lot of blood on
her forehead and that ehe wa € holding her head He tnen took
eeveral photographe of many of the people in the ballroom,
and then he telephoned hie office He wae told to give the
On
5/28/58
at Log Angelee California File # Log AngeLee 56-155
247
by SA D vaa Date dictated
7/1/58
Thig document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It i8 the property of the FBL &nd i8 loaned to
your agency; it and ita contents are not to be distributed outgide your agency.
m . ,
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CA 55-155
films in hig posseeeion to Tho would be in front
of' the Ambaggador Hotel on Wilanire Bbulevard When he went
to that location The police had the area blocked off and he
did not see W 80 he returned to tne hotel ard after finding
his pa rtner F he gave the filme to him_
He then went to his automobile which wae parked in
the rear parking lot of the hotel and, whlle he wa8 waiting in
hie car; he wa : approa ched by 2 police orficer and told to
open hie trunk_ He then identified himgelf ueing hie Loe
Angelee Police Depa rtment Prege Page and complied with the
officer'9 requeet The officer made a eearch of hi8 trunk,
and then apologized for the inconvenience telling him that a
woman had eeen him depoeit something in the trunk
etated that just before getting into hie car he had tazen
several lense: from his pockets which he carried there ana
which were very bulky _
At approrimately 4.09 a.m., after returning to hi:
office he again went back to the Ambaeeador Hotel and ehot
2ome m3re photogra in tne kitchen a rea where the shooting
occurred
He did not see Senator KZNNEDY at any time after the
Senator left the platform, nor did he observe a fera le caucaeian
wearing a polka dot drese at any time While at the Ainbaseador
Hotel He estimated that rrom where he wa & etanding in the
Embaeey Room to where the ehoot ing occurred the distance wae
approzimately 35 tj 40 feet
248
T
phe
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FD 302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
6/24/68
Date_
Alexandria,
Virginia, was interviewed on June 21 , 1968 , and furnished
the following informatione
stated he worked with the cre of
and B which was under contract to CBS for coverage
of Senator ROBERT KENNEDY' 8 campaign. He had been with
RENNEDY through the Oregon and California campaigno
He said prior to the shooting they had been in the
roon where the victory party was held and was told by
BF that KENNEDY was going to the Enbassy Room.
went up to KENNEDY' s suite of roons in order to do Proper coverageo
When KENNEDY got onto the elevator to go to the Jbassy Room
said he ana hig crew ran dovm five flights of stairs to be
able to film the acceptance speech . the time arrived
KENNEDY was on the stage He said they had to shoulder their
way through the crowd to the stage and he does not think
Senator KENNEDY came in through the crowd After the speech ,
KENNEDY turned and looked Left then right as though trying
to decide how to leave said he heard a man, unknown
say "this way Senator, it' s clear 9 t As the Senator left
through the rear followed, At approrimately the swing-
doors he heard what sounded like paper cups popping whien
someone stamps on them_ He first realized it was gun fire
when he saw
Plaster fall fron the ceiling where 2 bullet hico
His crew shoved their way
to the Senetor, filminge As he knelt
he could see che Senator moving his eyes and hls were
moving but F said he could not hear what he vas saying
stared kept filming until the magazine Tas emptyo
left to more film and when he brought it back R
removed the empty magazine and re-threaded the camera, W
then laid the camera down o
249
On_
6/21/68
0
Washington, D. C 0
File #_
WFO 173-135
SA Pep 6/24/68
Date dictated
This documeni conlalns neilhor recommendolions nor conclusions of Ihe FBL: Mi is Ihe properly of Ihe FBI and Is looned lo your agency:
Il and ils contenls ore nof lo b0 distributed oulside Your ogency.
being
They
By they
chey
ing
lips
get
by
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WFO 173-135
2
said and he then tried %o the
crowd away . When the amnbulance crew arrived F said he
gave whe camera %o J) and the two of them followed
the ambulance Zo
both hospitals taking photographs.
said he had given
one of his passes to J
(phonetic)
49
North Hollywood, California
9
telephone
9
So she could attend the speech 1n the Embassy
Room . The following the assassination told hin
that a man had @pproached her in the Embassy Room and asked for
one of her passes so he could go to rhe kicchen and see the
Senator. She refused &nd when she saw S IRHAN on television
she sald that was the man who had asked her for the passo
gaid he has never seen S IRHAN or the girl in
the "Polka dot-dress , M
2250
keep
day
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
6/20/68
Mr Chief Security Officer,
Ambassador Hotel, 3400 Wilghire Boulevard, Los Angeles ,
California, furnished the following information:
On June 5, 1968, at approximately 12.30
M one of the guards hired from Ace Guard
Service for ihe night, came to at which time M
had a white male in custody.
As he recalls, M told hin he took tni8
man into custody on the Embagsy Room floor level,-shortly
after the shooting,
could not_recall the individualb name
who was in CuS tody of M but believes the man 's last
name was Wl
As he recalls , it was determined that this
individual was a witness to the shooting and was turned
over to the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department
as a witness .
On 614/68 at Ls Angeles, CaLiforia File # Los Angeles_56_156
251
by SA Lmmc Date dictated 6417/88
Thig document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it &nd its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
a .m.,
him,
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
Date -6/12/68
telephone
number furnisned the foflowing information:
advised that she was the Organization
Chairnan for the LOS Angeles County Democratic Central
Committee until she relinquinshed this position to work as
a volunteer worker at the Kennedy Campaign Headquarters
located at 5615 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles She s tated
that at the Kennedy Campaign Headquarters
9
she supervised
the telephone soliciting program and explained that this
program was instituted in an effort to the Yegis tered
Democratic voters in Los Angeles and determine if they
intended t? vote for Senator KENNEDY
advised that there was a great dea1 of
confusion at the campaign headquarters on the days prior
to election She. placed individuals wnerever
empty telephones appeared throughout the campaign headquarters
and attempted to keep everyone busy making as many soliciting
calls as possible She stated that due to the large number
of individuals working at the campaign headquarters; and the
confusion and activity that existed
5
it is difficult for her
to specifically recall any particular individual She stated,
however , that she does recall one male volunteer worker who
was seated facing the wa 11 at the front right hand side of
the telephone goliciting area She stated that she i8 unable
to recall this individual' 8 name but remembers having a
conversation with him concerning a transportation request by
some
registered vote She added that she is unab le to
further describe this conversation and believes this brief
conversation was the only one she had with this individual_
G advised that she is able to further recall this
individual as she felt he was quite handsome and that he
resembled a younger version of the movie actor OMAR SHARIF
G further advised this individual Wore s Ome type of
a metal medallion on a chain or leather strap around his
neck, further drawing her attention to him. stated
that she believes she could recognize this individual and
described him a5 follows :
6/8/68 atIo8Angeless California File Wos Angeles
On
SA J_ and 252
4
SA D ID/ JW/asi
Date dictated
6/11/68
by
containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of' the FBI and is loaned to
This document your agency; i and its contents are not to be distributed outside your ogency_
poll
day _
56_ 156
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LA 56-
Race White
Sex Male
Nationality Possibly of Middle Eastern
descent
Comp lexion Dark , as if well tanned
Height 6' to 6'1"
Build Slender
Hair Dark , warn long (western
movie length)
Eyes Dark
19 t? 23 years
Characteristics Wore a mustache which was
full under nose thinner as
it tapered out to cheeks
(not a hand lebar mus tache )
Dress Turtle-neck type knit shirt
sweater, bright light blue
in color, possibly long s leeved
advised that a male volunteer worker
9
who a18o worked as a telephone solicitor
9
was seated to the
right of the above-described individual but does not know 1f
these individuals were friends or not_ She stated that she
never heard them speak to one another in English, or any
other language, and never observed anything which would
indicate whether or not they knew each other She stated
that she is unab le to describe this individual other than
that he was a male , about the same age as the first-described
individual and shorter in stature
advised that she was not familiar with
telephone volunteer worker W_ J WOOD &nd was unab le to
recall anything conc 'erning WOOD
advised that M
Los Angees
5
also worked c Losely witn {ne te Jepnone
soficfting program and might possibly nave information
concerning the individual she deseribed as resembling OMAR
SHARIF and other telephone solicitors who were seated in the
immediate area surrounding this individual_
253
1
156
Age
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LA
further advised that volunteer workers,
J and might possibly have information
concerning individuals who worked at the campaign headquarters
2s telephone solicitors She advised that is originally
fron Australia and is presently residing 3
West Hollywood te lephone number She s tated
tnat resides Los Angeles
3
telephone
number
advised that she was not present at the
campaign headquarters on Sundey , June 2, 1968
5
and , therefore,
her recollection of the individual resembling OMAR SHARIF
and the brief conversation she had with him had to take
place on Monday , June 3, 1968 She added that most of the
volunteer workers and telephone solicitors were released from
the headquarters at approximately 5:00 PM on June 3, 1968;
Therefore she 1s certain that her contact with this
individual took place earlier that 8ke i8 unab le to
specifically recall exactly what time of the except that
it was either in the late morning or afternoon hours
254
56- 156
day:
day
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
1 6/12/68
Date
furnished
the following inrormation:
advised that she had worked as a
volunteer worker at the Kennedy Campaign Headquarters,
5615 Wilshire Boulevard for several days prior to the
election on June
1968, and , in this capacity, waB
entitled t? attend the press conference being held in the
Embassy Rozm of the Ambassador Hotel on the night of
June 4, 1968_
advised that she arrived at the press
conference at approximately 8.30 PM and Lnmediately
deternined that , while this conference was origina
scheduled for menbers of the press and campaign workers ,
there were numerous individuals present who were not members
Jf either group . She stated that she was surprised that 53
many outsiders were present and that the security in limiting
the attendance to authorized persons appeared t? be So lax.
advised that everyone appeared to be
happy at the conference and most individuals were Smiling
in general, elated over the Senator s apparent election
win 28 they viewed the results of the election on television _
advised that at approximately 9:30 or 10:00 PM ,
her attention was directed to one ma le individual who did
not appear t3 belong to any group and who was very obvijusly
alone She stated further that it appeared odd ta her as
this individual did not appear to be elated over the election
and , in fact, appeared to be te somber advised
that as the evening wore she continuousLy observed this
individual and noticed that he never spoke to anyone but
merely stood in the general area of the NBC cameras and
observed the proceedings She stated that this individual
was not wearing any type of a
press badge or KENNEDY badge
but that he did have a drink in his hand, which she further
recalls as being odd as there was no bar open to the public
in the Embassy Room, where this conference took place
On
6/8/68
at
Los_Angeles
9
California File #L2s_Angeles_56-156
255
SA J and
SA D JMK/asi 6/11/68
by Date dictated
Thig document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBL: It is the property of the FBl and is loaned to
your agency; it and it8 contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
4 ,
ily
and ,
qui
on,
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LA
advised that at approximately 12:00 PM ,
Senator KENNEDY appeared and gave his victory speech and that
due to the confusion and excitement S urrounding this speech,
she lost track of this individual and did not further observe
hin.
advised that she believed she could
recognize the individual she observed for approximately twj
hours and described hin as follows :
Race White
Sex Ma le
Nationality Possibly of Indian descent
lexion Dark
Height 516" to 5'8"
Build Stocky
38 to 45 years
Eyes Dark
Characteristics Beard worn rather short,
neatly trimmed , not pointed
at chin
Dress Black businesg suit with white
shirt and canary yellow
silk turban
advised that she has no informetion
whatsoever concerning this individual, his identity or that
he was in anyway connected with the assassin but felt that
his actions were peculiar and, in view of this , wished to
relate the above incident She added that this individual
was not identical to SIRHAN SIRHAN
56- 156
Comp
Age
tie,
256
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
716/68_
Mr R who reeides at
Beverly Hills , telephone No 277-6789,
advised wnat ne
and his wife, P were at the Ainba s gad3r Hotel on the evening
of June 4, 1368, when Senator ROBERT KENNEDY wa 8 8s8a88 inated
He stated that they arrived at the hotel a t approximately 7.45 PM,
and went to the Embasey Ballroom wher 2 they r ema ined for most
of the even He etated that, when Senator KENNEDY was making
his remark , they could not hzar him from where they were stand ing
80 they went 60 the area back stage of the Embassy Ballroom and
from there they went to the Colonial Room This wa s the press
room where they watched the end of his speech on the television
Ionitor
advised that,after tha Senator l2ft the Embassy
Room and went into the Iritchen area, he heard what seemed to be
Iiba lloons breaking I and what he later learned to kve baen gun
shots He stated that he and his wife rema ined at the hotel in
the Colonial Room watching the proc eedings on televieion until
approximately 2:30 AM , at which tima they went t? thair home
He stated that ae never saw any one during the entira
evening at the hotel vho rasembled the photographs he later saw
of SIRHAN BISHARA S IRHAN.
On
7/16/68
at
Beverly Hille, California
File #
Log Angeles 56-156
257
SA JR . /sdb 7/16/68
by Date dictated
Thie document contains neither recommendationg nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
ing
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WFO 173-135
WBS: jcb
1
residence Washington,
D . 2
political corce spondent for Time Magazine, stated
that as Senator KENNEDY completed his victory talk in the
Embassy Roon of the Anbassador Hotel , he proceeded to the
Colonial Room 2s Senator KENNEDY was to address the press
in that room
said thaz he was standing
near che door of the
Colonial Room when he heazd shots and he opened te door
of this room and saw G P and J hold -
the suspect in thesrooting
0f Senator KENNEDY He said
a very small man in suit clothes possibly 2 sports jacket
was jumping on the hands of the suspect , later identified
as SIRHAN SIRHAN
stated he did not see the shooting, however ,
he believed he was one of the first into the area from the
Colonial Room , He said he did not recall ever seeing SLRHAN
SIRHAN prior to the shooting of Senator KENNEDY _
'258
Co ,
ing
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
1
Date
7/16/68
residence Los
Angeles , telephone No . employed at J Avon Associates
real estate)
5
8301 Souin western Avenue, telephone Na
M advised that he is the co-chairman of Inages , a Negro
organization dedicated to the enrichment of the black community
with headquarters et 2714 'West Vernon Avenue_ He advised that
he was active in the California primary canpaign and that he
sponsored the election of Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY _ He
furnished the following information with to his
lrnowledge of the events 0i June 4 and 5,
ieaBectt
at the Ambassador
Hotel , Los Angeles , where Senator KENNEDY was shot:
At approximately 10;15 to 10:30 PM on June 1968 ,
he left his headquarters_
3
2714 West Vernon Avenue , and proceeded
to the Ambassador Hotel to take part in a rally for Senator
KENNEDY _ He arrived at the Ambassador Hotel approximately
10.30 to 10.45 PM and parked his car on a street west and south
of the Ambassador . He then_proceeded to look for
I Co-chairman of Images S0 that he could obtain a press
pass and thereby enter the Ambassador ballroon. He found
Mr in the lower ballroon and together went
upstairs to the Kennedy Press Room , but they Were unsuccessful
in getting & pas s for hif He was able to enter the
press room, which he understands 18 called the Colonial Room,
and he went through the kitchen passagewayto the rear of the
press roon.
While in the kitchen pas sageway , he observed a group
of newsmen and photographers interviewing either F
or Senator KENNEDY _ He did not close enough: to see the
individual being interviewed however ne recalls the time to
have been approrinately 1l:l5 to 11:30 PM_ It was at that tire
that he noticed SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN at the edge of the crowd
near a tall thin person and a female Caucasian SIRHAN BISHA RA
SIRHAI was wea ring blue jeans , a shirt, a jacket and desert boots .
On
7/15/68
at
Los Angeles , Californie File # Lo8Angeles 56-156
259
SA jmb 7/16/68
by Date dictated
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and it8 contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
"New
4 ,
"New
they
get
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LA 56-156
He appeared to be approx ima tely 22 years old and of
Mexican-American descent He also appeared to him to be
approximately five feet eight inches , 140 to 150 pounds with
2 dark olive complexion. The tall thin person standing near hin
was' approximately 22 yeare old, however, he does not recall that In-
dividua1 ' 8 dress nor nis ethnic group The female: Caucasian wa8 in
her early twenties and she wore a polka dot dress which wa8 white
with black polka dots She had & figure, but he cannot
further describe her and 1s doubtful 1f he would recognize
her again.
He then left the kitchen area and went downstairs
where he had several drinks at one of the bars located at
the rear of the lower ballroom. When th? Senator spoke
5
& t
epproximately midnight
>
he was in the ballroom and saw the
Senator on the television monitors located there _ Immediately
following the speech he exited the lover ballroom by passing
& guard , who was supposed to be guarding the lower kitchen
doors He proceeded through these doors and started up the
kitchen stairway when he heard what he thought at the time
two balloons popping_ Hz arrived in the upper kitchen passageway
and in the confus ion realized thet wha t he had heard were shots
being fired He jumped onto the food preparation table which
was to his right and from there observed a struggle taking
place with SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN a5 the culprit He observed
a gun in one of SIRHAN ' s hends and he noticed that i0 was a
small calibre revolver_ At this tine only a sma11 portion
of SIRHAN' s face was visible sinc e spmeone had an arn around
him. He recalls that R and were
those who were struggling with SIRHAN SIRHAN _
Hestayed In the area 8 short while and observed
Senator KENNEDY lying on the floor with his feet facing the
press roon _ He also observed tha + other individuals were
apparently injured in the area A short iine after the shooting:
whici he estimates to be approxima three to five minutes ,
260
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CA 56-156
several Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived on
the Sc ene SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN was then taken away and
then Senator KENNEDY was removed on a stretcher by 8 ome
ambulance drivers
Saon after the kitchen area was cleared of
people_ he wa8 interviewed by the Los Angeles Police Department ,
85
'Weli
as television Channels 4 and 5, and he recalls that
he related the events of the e vening essentially a3 related
above _ He advised that he can furnish no further information
regarding the shooting_
261
==================================================
Page 19
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64 )
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
6/17/68
Date
Bookkeeper at Allied Buildere
Corporation 7451 North La Cieneea Boulevard
;
Los Angeles ,
California, advised 3.8 followe:
18 aen Or 3
Woodbury Colleg e and regideg
at Los Angelee a boarding
houge Tnig boarding house i8 located about one block froin
the Amhaaeador Hotel and another boarder
5
whose name
L9 # Froi New Jereey; had been watching the primary
election resulte on television at this boarding houge At
about .10:15 p . m on June 4 , they decided to walk to
the Anbaggador Hotel to see Senator KENNEDY at hig campaign
headguarterg
When arrived_ they were told py a uniformed
officer that the Enbasey Room could not accommodate any
more persons because of fire reeulationg and his
rriend , then went to another roon 3if the lobby of
thig hotel where the RAFFERTY headquartere wa9 located
They remained at the RAFFERTY headquarters for about 30 or
45 minuteg
At about 11:45 2 .m . , and kamne back
t3 the main lobby 22 the hotei and Tearned {rOn convergation
with other people etanding in the lobby that a corridor from
the nain lobby woulc lead to the kitchen aea through which
Senator KENNEDY woula peee on hie way fron the hotel after
hie epeech in the Enbaeey Roor Zollowed eoine people
throuzh this corridor to the kitchen are8 anc etood with
otherz in a crowd of about 50 or 60 pereone near a doorway
leading to the kitchen from the roetrun in che Embagey Room
m1 I Several 'KENNEDY girle had cleared a path fron this
doorway through the kitchen People were etanding on each
eide 0f this cleared area wich led out by the eteam table
Waile thus wai- he could hear KENNEDY making 8 epeech
inide the Embagey Roozl After thig epeech wag conc luded,
KENNEDY and eeveral 3f hie aidee appeared inn the kitchen area
from behind the rostrum rether than through the exit route
that had been planned
6/13/68 Log Anzeles, California Los Angeleg 55..156
On at File #
2262
SA ' & and
M 'HHW : jrk ) 6/14/68
by Date dictated
Thie document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
1968
they
ting_
==================================================
Page 20
==================================================
2
LA 56-156
KENNEDY Fa: eurrounded by pereong who were reaching
to shake hie hand eaid that in the pueh of the crowd
he finally found hingeli in a ticht crowd about four or five
wavee of people behina KENNEDY and about cen or twelve feet
behind Senator KENNEDY_ said he cjuld not gee KENNEDY ' g
head but coula see people reach over others' ghoulders to ehake
his hand or touch kin Senator KENNEDY wa9 laboriouely
working hig way throuch the crowd, which wa: pressing in
around him_ He nad Juet entered nnarrow corridor between
the eteam table and 8 well leaid he heard several
shote in rapid order
;
all within three to four seconds This
wag followed by screans confuaion and puehing by people
ecra bling to egcape When recovered Iromn the pushins
crowd
5
he caw KENNEDY Lying on rhe floor iil the corridor
Jetween the steam table end the wall A busboy was kneeling
besice hin but was apparently in ehock and wa: Coing' nothing
to comfort KENNEDY said he kneeled and took KENNEDY 8
head in hie left hand and lifted 16 6ently He neld his
nand t? the wound on the back of KENNEDY 8 head near his
ear and tried to stoz the flow of blood
said that KENNEDY looked 42 at him and askea
PAUL all right?" G eaid he wa: certain that KIIVNEDY
was not referring to hin and did not know who this P wae;
therefore he did not reply. said he wae alg3
concentrating on etoppin; the bleeding fronl the Senator' s
Ii head KENNEDY then aeked him Ig every hocy e11 right?"
GRIECO said he told KENNEDY
3
Don 1 t worry you '11 be
"I all right At thie po_nt one 0f KENNEDY 8 eyes closed
and the other eye noved erratically KENNEDY made noo pther
eien of responge and appeared to be unconecious said
he held KENNEDY ' g head Zor about 12 to 2 i:nutes _
At thie point
;
an unknown man Jut apparently 8
pereon of authority, cane and agked Who Ie was
replied that he weg cuet trying to hel? 8top the bleeding
Thie aan then knelt a 1d took KENNEDY' 2 neac in hig hande At
thie point
6
G stepped back _ Sonet_ae a ter thie poeeibly
8 jinute or two 8 doctor cane and other people were bending
over KENNEDY &ttenpting to confort hin .
I
263
T
"Is
==================================================
Page 21
==================================================
3
LA 56..156
then wedged his way over to the far end
of the steam table anc obgerved several nen holding STRHAN
on his back ,on top of the steai table At this time there
wa: complete bedlazl with reporters and photographers and
otherg Ehouting and a ecene of general confusion
remainec in this area until the ainbulance attendants cane
witn the etretcher; and KENNEDY was placed 0n the stretcher
and removed Irom the sceile
gaid tiat he had been geparated from hig
Iriend
9 80 he lezt the Anbaegador Hotel alone and
walked back to his boarding house He cleaned the blood
Zrom his hands and watched television coverale of the murder
ecene coning from the Aibasgador Hotel An announcer requested
that 2l1 witnesses returi to the hotel anc contact the police _
said he then walked back to the hotel and wae interviewed
by & Wniformed police officer who took hie inforiation and
hie name and addrees
eaid that in later convergation with F
in the boarding house , E etated that ne had not been
in the area and had not obgerved the ehootii of Senator
KENNEDY
Eaic he did not obeerve SIRHAN in the kitchen
area or eleewhere before KENNEDY appeared {r031 the rostrun
in the Enbaeey Rooz and he did not gee SIRHAN shoot Senator
KENNEDY He said Iie dic not see the murder weapon at any tine
GRIECO did not oberve SIRHAN until after the ehooting when
ne wa: being reetrained on the etean table py eeveral men
said that he wa: stancing with othere
in7 a crowd near an exit door from the Eubaeey Roor for 2
period 02 about 10 iinutes waiting for Senator KENNEDY to Zinigh
nis epeech. There were @any othere engaced in subdued conversation
I n and peing monitored by 'KENEDY girls
dietinctly recalls standing' next to 3 woman
Mho wa: wearing a polka dot blouse a white color with dark
polka dote She el80 wore a scarf nade of tne came material
Thich was about her ghoulders end pogsiply pinned in Zront
He eaid thig wOian wag wearing a black ekirt and carrying
a bleck puree She had black hair which wag pinned cloge t0
the back of her head in a vert ehort ponytail He described
264
==================================================
Page 22
==================================================
IA 56-155
her a8 about 30 years old in heicht, and fair complexion
He eaid she wo9 a very attractive pereon She seemed unugually
remloved fron the general excitenent digplayed by othere
anticipating geeing Senator KENNEDY did not speak
directly with her but recalle that ehe epoke in general terils
t0 othere concerning whether KENNEDY would actually cone
ou thig way after hie speech She had n0 noticeable accent
He doee not recall whether ghe was with anvone elee at thie
time but had the digtinct impregeion that ehe Mag alone
19 poeitive that he could recoenize thig worlan i1 he saw her
arain He ie not certain whether he could recocnize a photosraph
of hez _
stated he mas never ecquainted with SIRHAN
and never saw hin until arter the shootin of KENNEDY
3
just
after midnieht
)
June 4 : 1C38
eaic he i8 willinc to teetizy to the above
if neceseary and i8 willing to cooperate in any other way
neceesary regarding hig knowle of thig incicent
coula be reached at h.: poarding house at
telephone nuber a t hig place 3f eaploynent at
telephone Or at hie parente hozle
in Redlands Celizornia
265
5'4"
dze
==================================================
Page 23
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64}
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
6/13/63
B Director, Los Angeles Chapter,
Negro Industrial and Economic Union, 3421 Soutr Vermont
Avenue, was re-interviewed and advised as follows:
after being shown a photograph of a
group of people in the corridor between the Embassy and
the Colonial Roons 0f the Ambassador Hotel, which were
taken at the time Of the shooting of Senator ROBERT F
KENNEDY s tated that he was unable to pick out any 74 of
the
individuals
in the photograph a8 identical with hinself
He thought he should have appeared somewhere in the center
0f the photograph
identiried the doors appearing in the
center background 0f the photograph a9 being the doors to
the Colonial Room which was being used as the Press Room
on the evening of June 4 , 1963
5
and the early morning of
June 5, 1963_
On
6/12/63t
Los Angeles , California File # Los_Angeles 56-156
266
SA
6/12/63
by Date dictated
Thig document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of the FBI &nd i8 loaned to
your agency; it and its contente are not to be distributed outside your agency.
==================================================
Page 24
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
6/11/68
Date
Director Los Anceles Chanter of
Negra Industrial and Economic Union,
wa s interviewed and furnished the roflowing infor-
mation:
etated that he had been W or 'kcing for the
KENNEDY campa ign committee in Southern California
9
and on
June 4, 1367 , at approx Imately 19:15 p . in 9
he arrived
at the Ambassador Hotel and went to the Ambaseador Room
where he talked to geveral individuale Whoj be does not now
recall About twenty minutes later etated that he
saw an individua1 in the Ambassador Room whon he later saw shoot
Senator KENNEDY _ He degcribed hir as be shabbily dressed
with bggy pants and looked as though he did not belong
there, that is to say, he did not look 1ike a campa ign
worker or KENNEDY supporter_ GRIFFIN looked thig individual
in the eye at which time the ind ividual stared back _
stated he noticed a girl whose description he does not recall
stand in close proximity to SIRHAN He never noticed
them converge with 2ach other put he had the feeling that
they were there together then secured a press
pase fror P for the Embagsy Room and at approxi-
mately 10.45 P, n_ ne encered this roon Due to the nuber of
pegple in the Embassy Rooi and the heat emanating fron the
televis ion cameras, it wa? extremely warm 80 he went from
the Embagsy Room to the press roora from time to time to rest
and cool down
At about 11.33 P.m
)
he gaw 8 IRHAN in the kitchen corridc
between the press room and the Embassy Rooi _ Thie 18 the
same corr idor in wh ich Senator KENNEDY was ehot He eaw
S IRHAN there pr ior to the time that KENNEDY went to the
EmbasEy Room to speak Dur Ing the time KENNEDY was speaking,
saw S IRHAN in the corridor and al8o saw a white ma
about 6 '2" further description of which he dozf not recall,
and a white fema le, 5'5" with blond bouffant hair
7
dressed
in a white flowing-type dress with colorations, stand
in close proximity with S IRHAN Neither Of these individuale
had press pasee: or KENNEDY buttons He saw these three
individual8 at 1eas& 403 31 shree + ine: in the eorridor among
numerous other individuals who were in the area
On
6/11/6Bat Los Angeles , California
File #
Los Angeles 56-156
267
SA 1 8 and
by Jr
{E8 . jmk} Date dictated 6 41163
This docunent containg neither recommendation8 nor conclusiong of tho FBI It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
ing
ing
1e,
ing
==================================================
Page 25
==================================================
2
CA 56-156
left the Embagsy Room prior to the completion
of KENNEDY ' g gpeech and went to the preee rooil He paeeed the
above tnree individuals in the corridor on h;s way to the prege
room at thig time He etayed in the preee roonl approxinately
two or three minutee and a9 he opened the djor of the prege roon
to the corridor he saw SIRHAN fire the shote at KENNEDY and
the other individuale He could nor recall Iow many ehote
he heerd He gaw somebody holding SIREAN and etruegling
with hin Imnediately after the ehot went over to
where KENNEDY wae lyin: and epoke with hia for 2 few moments
He then etood up and noticed the male and Zenale whom he had
seen in the corridor leave the area through the kitchen He
tried to follow these two individuale but due to the rush
of the people in the corridor he was unable to do So
never noticed these three individuale conversing with one
another in the corridor
added that he would be unable to identify
aily of these individuale except SIRHAN
268
I
==================================================
Page 26
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
7/19/68
Date
Mr Hollywood,
Ca lifornia was contacted at his address He furnished the
following information:
His Social Security Number 18 He was
PII
born at Los Ange les, California He is a free PII
lance cameraman He arrived at the Ambassador Hotel, Los
Ange les California at approximately 6:15 PM on June 4 , 1968 _
He remained at the hotel until shortly a fter midnight on June 5,
1968 ,
He wa S in the Embas8y Room of the hotel shor after
midnight on June 5, 1968 , when Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY
C ompleted his victory speech He saw Senator KENNEDY leave the
platform and exit the roomthrough a door located at the rear
of the platform He , HE left the room through a door
located at the right of the platform and followed behind a
group of people who were following behind Senator KENNEDY _
Senator KENNEDY 's party had pa ssed through doore
and entered into the kitchen area whlle he wa s still in the
ha llway_ Whi le he wa s still in the ba llway he heard wha t
sounded 1ike firecrackers be- exploded_ Shor after
hearing the soundg 3 lot of pe ople began screaming and he heara
8 omeone say that Senator KENNEDY had been shot He went into
tbe room that Senator KENNEDY had entered and saw the Senator
lying on the floor wounded
statea tha t there was ma 88 confusion in the
roon at the time and he noticed a girl who wa 8 very upset and
who wa8 crying and who seemed to be going to faint
He realized that he could not do anything in the room
80 he decided to be lp this girl and he escorted her out of the
roort and down an enclosed stairway to the outside of tbe hotel
7/16/68 Hollywood, California Los Ange les 56-156
On at File # 7269
SA JR _ and
SA R P [RFP /sdb 7/17/68
by Date dictated
Thig document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
tly
ing tly
==================================================
Page 27
==================================================
2
CA 56-156
He determined that thig girl'8 name wa 5
(phonetic) and that she wa & accompanied by another woman whose
name wa : Mr 8 _ D
He escorted both of the women out of the hotel and
obtained 3 cab for them The girl wa8 80 upset that he decided
to acc ompany them in che cab and they drove to a neerby
residence addre 88 not Icnown , which he be lieve 8 wa : the residence
of' Mrs When thej arrived_at the residence Mrs
introduced him to her husband D and lga ve him
a card which shows that 18 an attorney 89sociated with
MARSHALL, BUSBY and_CLARK , at 205 South Broadway, Los Angele8 ,
ce lephone No
Isaid he stayed with these individuals for a
short while.
He advised that he left the hotel with the two women
within a pproximately five minutes after he saw that Sena tor
KENNEDY was lying on the floor wounded
He wa 8 shown a photograph of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN
and he advised that he saw thie individual 's photograph in the
newspa per on June 5, 1968, but tha t prior to observing the
photograph in che newspaper he does not reca11 ever having seen
thie individual
said that he wa s leaving for Europe on July 18,
1968, and expects to stay approxima tely 8ix months He advised
that he can be contacted through his parents addregs
Lo8 Angele8, Ca lifornia, telephone
270
==================================================
Page 28
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
Date
7/2/68
Hall, Los Angeles ,
furnished the following information:
He 18 generalLy known a8 H br "CAP" aand
resides at Van Nuye California He is
Chief Deputy to
Counciiman
for the Fifth
Council District , Los Angeles , California
In early April, 1968, shortly after Senator ROBERT R
KENNEDY declared hinself 2s a
presidential candidate he took
3 leave of absence from his position and helped the KENNEDY
Committee set up their Campaign Headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard
in Los Angeles , California
He hadto return to his duties 3s Chief Deputy to
Councilman E and was not generally active in the work
at the Campaign Headquarters
He 18 acquainted with Mr and Mrs and Mrs
managed the Campaign Office for Senator KENNEDY
which wa $ on Wilshire Boulevard He is also acquainted with a
Mr M from the Ventura , California area , who was an
active supporter of Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY
He wa S at the Ambassedor Hotel and in attendance
in the Embassy Room on June 4 , 1968 , when Senator KENNEDY and
the other individuals were shot He was not accompanied by
anyone and had no recollection of seeing Mr at the
Ambassador Hotel or in the Embassy Roon during the event
Mr may have been in attendance; however, he did not
recall seeing hin.
Ee recalled seeing Mr in theEmbassy Roon
shortly before the shots were fired and Mr M 9 sked him if he
could help when he was giving comfort to Mr who had
been injured by the shots
6/28/68 Los Angeles , California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
271
SA a lm 6/28/68
by Date dictated
This document containg neither recommendationg nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
City
==================================================
Page 29
==================================================
2
GA 56-156
He did not see the actual shooting since he was
following behind Senator KENNEDY ' 6 party through the kitchen
area near the Embassy Room He had been standing in the
area to the side of the speaker' 8 stand on which the exits
were located _ He was standing on a chair between the exit
and the ABC television camera and when Senator KENNEDY made
his exit, he shook hands with him He followed behind the
group that was with Senator KENNEDY and heard what he
5
at
first, thought to be firecrackers He saw the commotion
and realized it wa $ shooting at which tine he ducked behind
a refrigerator He noticed Mr P S with whom he
had been acquainted, lying on the floor bleeding from a wound
in his head He cushioned his head and attempted to keep
Mr S from further injury from the crush of the crowd
He did not observe anyone resembling the newspaper photographs
of the individual described 2$ SIRHAN SIRHAN in the Ambassador
Hotel or Embassy Room prior to the shooting of Senator ROBERT F
KENNEDY and the others. He did not observe anyor wearing 8
turban in the Ambassador Hotel or the Embassy Room prior to or
after the shooting of Senator KENNEDY and the others He did
observe
3
and advised the Los Angeles Police Department of a
young female Caucasian, epproximately 18 or 19 years of age ,
standing some two feet from him who was wearing a sleeveless
dress , off-white in color , with navy blue circles on it The
blue circles were of different sizes and the smaller circles
had a white peace symbol in them and the larger circles had the
word M in lower case white letters The material in the
dress appeared to be 2 manufactured material and did not appear
to be hand-stamped
From five or six feet awajy , the dress would look like
a polka dot dress This individual had shoulder length hair and
it was natural blond in color She wa $ not with anyone and he
saw this person approximately ten minutes before Senator KENNEDY
spoke to the assembled crowd He was struck by the fact that the
young lady had come to the Embassy Roon with ell of the KENNEDY
supporters in attendance while wearing 3 dres: supporting his
opponent He did not see this individual engage in any unusual
or suspicious activity He did not observe this person in the
kitchen area near the Embassy Room at any time and did not see
her after Senator KENNEDY spoke and made his exit
272
T
==================================================
Page 30
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F0-202 (Rov. 4.15 64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date_
6/20/68
reporter Colubia Broadcasting System ,
2020 M Streec, N,To , furnished the following Lnformtion:
traveled with the KENNEDY Campaign party in
Nebraska , Indiana Qregon, and California During KENNEDY 's
victory speech was
stending in the crowd in the Exbassy
Roon listening to the speech . Facing the stage I was
standing on the right hand side of the roonl . A had been
forned leading away from the stage to the right side of the
roon and assuned KENNEDY would exit through this
way .
Instead when KENNEDY left the stagehe went to. the
left side of the roomn and exited into the kitchen. tried
to follow KENNEDI end in doing so he had to break through the
which had been formed Lea to tne right
0
When tbe
shots were fired couldnot see KENNEDY Tas about
15 to 20 feet behind Tno Ras
following KENNEDY
proceeded into the area where KENNEDY Was lying, stayed
3 fev minutes
9
and then lefi tke area with sone filn given
hin by a cameranan.
never reneubers seeing 8 Person res
embling
SIRHAN SIRHAN during the campaigning in Oregon or
California.
In addition he does not remember seeing 2 girl in 2
dot dress at the hotel the night of the e8sassination.
stated he did not think he could furnish a1y additioral infor-
mation.
2273
On_
6/19/68
a
Weshington; D.
File #_
WFo 173-135
SA bah 6/20/68
by Dato dictated
This document conloins neilher recommendalions nor conclvsions 0f Ihe FBI: |i Js Ihe property ol Iho FBl ond Is looned to Your agency:
ilond ils conlenls arc nol lo be disiribuled oulside Your agency:
path
Pazh-
path ding
Polkae
C.
==================================================
Page 31
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev, 4.'5
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
6/17/68
1
Chevy Chase, Maryland 5210 ne 1S a reporter rOr whe
"Wasiington Post"
9
1522 L Street, North West ,
Washington, D, C, had been assigned to cover
Senlator ROBERT FRANCIS KENNEDY 's campeign for the
Democratic Party nonination 0f President.
said hle T72$ at the Anbasgador Hotel inl
Los Angeles
9
California during the evening of June 4,
and early morning of June 5, 1968 _
0
R
Press Secretary 2o Senator EDWARD KENNELY and during
the canpaigne Press Secretary to Senator ROBERT KEAZNEDY
told about midnight , June b , 1968 ROBERT KEZNEDY
Tould talk with the press in the Colonial Roon after he
made a victory speech in the Embassy RoOm. About four
to fiva riutes before KLJ!EDY completed the speech ,
valked to the Colonial Room and scood inside
Taiting for KEEDZ About: 12.15AM to 12:2OAM, 13
heard four O1 five shots Thich sounded like firecrackers
but instinct told him were &131 shors, ran back
into tle kitchen area and Satt KENNZDY lying 012 the floor
and he appeared to be dead
0
Blood #as OIL che right side
of KENNEDY' & forehead ,
0 On 9 right Tere several mell struggling
with che suspect
9
H Later learned Tas SIRHAN SIRHAN
0
Tlese men were and 2 Iwan2
whose first o1 last nane 12 U Isaid U is
either the hotel manazer or Assistant Manager
0
Several
others were_helping hold the suspect. One of the others
was 131 KENITEDY 8 5 bodyguard ran back
to the Colonial Room and called the "Washington Post" to
274
On__ 6/17163
af
Mashington, File #_ HRO_173-135
by_
S4 RD Date dictated 61J68
This document contoins neither recommendotions nor conclusions of the FBI: |t is the property of thc FBI ond is loaned to Youl ogency:
it ond its confents Orc nof fo bc distribufod outside Your agency.
He
==================================================
Page 32
==================================================
WFO 173-135
RDAirda
2
hold the issue up for the news about the assassination
of Senator ROBERT FRANCIS KENNEDY _
0
Said it
took him threc or four minutes to do this and then
he returned to where KIZIEDY wa5 shot. Isaid the
suspect Was being held
0n 2 hotel serving table while
a crowd of angcy perso1s were screaning to kill hin,
The suspect was taken out of the hotel through the press
roon Thich was the Colonial Roonie
went back t0 the kitchen area and
was told B KETNEDY had been taken to the
hospital
0
H ran to the KENNEDY Suiie 031 the
fifth floor 0f the hoiel and WaiS told KEZNNEDY had been
taken to the Centrel Receiving Hospital
0
then
ran downstairs to the parking lot entrence to the hocel
asked 2 driver of a car to dcive him to the Centzal
Receiving Hospitel Then followed KESNNEDY , whlen
KENNEDY Tas taken to che Cood Samaritan Hospital
0
Plasna Wa $ not available at Central Receiving Hospital
and KEMTNEDY had to pe takcen to the Gooa Sanaritan
Hospital about one half nile away . H said he
later learned , KENNEDY had no pulse
9
heartbeat Or
respiration but Tas revived by heart massage and
adrenalin shots
0
said he passed through che kitchen area
a nunber of times during the evening of Jine 1968 and
could not recall having
seerl the suspect
2
SIRHAN SIRILAN
in the area , said kitchian erployees at the hoiel
were wearing white jackets , Also he could not recall
having
seen any YOLilg woman mearing a
polka dot dress in
the erea of the kitchen H said SIRHIAN was vearing
blue jacket 2n1d blue dungaree
0
275
only
by
and
4 ?
3
==================================================
Page 33
==================================================
MFO 173-135
RDA:rda
3
said the original for the
victory speech of KENNEDY Was for KENNEDY to go to
the second ballroom below the Enbassy Room for
a
speech to the people gathered_ there but
said &he i17 the lower ballroom were in a
mean mood and expressing impatience that KENNEDY
was not there
0
said KENNEDY should not g0
down there and go to the Colonial Roon Lo talk to
the reporters instead
6
Earlier in the evening: KEINEDY invited H
Lo invite some oiher reporters to g0 to the "Factory"
9
a ichtclub owed by P for a victory partyo
said, "What time," KENNEDY said, "As soonl as
ihe speech is over . "
1 Ta5 in the Embassy Ballroon wen KENNEDY
entered at 11:25 12:OOPM, After introductions in the
Enbassy KEWNEDY spoke for about tventy minutes_
0
furnished the names of the folloving
who were at the scene cf the shooting:
Free lance Writer who resides in
Nev York.
"Time" nagazine
"Boston Clobe"
CBS caieraman, who took pictures of the
scene
York Tines"
'275
plan
People
Roon ,
{Nev
==================================================
Page 34
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TFO 173-135
RDA:rda
L
"New York Times"
addled Advance man for
KENNEDY who arranged appearances fo1 the Senator was there
told he was the first d0 SIRIIAN as
he vas tie nearest Person to hino
also Tas holding SIRHAN said, Ihen he first sav
SIRIAN
9
he was being held R
and
A Negro nemspaperman in California whose
photograph was in"Tine"or" Newsweek" was cloge to KENNEDY
when he was shoz
0
Tlis n@wSpapernan said he had seen
SIRHAN twice in the Colonial Roon and SIRILAN had been
ru out of the Colonial Room twice
Aitorney in2 Washington
3
D Cp rode
in the anbulance wizh KENNEJY to the hcspitalo
described 85 KINNEDY Campaign Manager
0
Said he thought abouk the security
conditions On
Tuesday evening
a5 & door to the outside 0f
the hotel which was to the right of the Embassy Room stage
looking at the roomn from behind the stege WeS open and
anyone could enter Also 0n
Tuesday night, the Colonial
Room was filled with people who were not with the Press
and were
having vniskey, coffee, doughnuts and other
refreshments . coplained to H
a KENNEDY Press Secretary. tried to arrange
for persons to be adaitted to the room if they had
press credentials ,
277
greb
by
they
only
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Page 35
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TFO 173-135
RDA:rda
5
The headquarters for candidates ,
and vere located in tile Ambassador Ilotel
near the area used by the KZNNEDY supporters _
said Large crords wera in the Ambassador Hotel during
the evening of June 4 and noming of June 5, 1968 &
<78
==================================================
Page 36
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU GF INVESTIGATION:
6/21/68
Date
1
North Nest,
Isaid he is the Mhize House Correspondent
for che"New York Beily News" X 2nd has an orfice in the
National Press Building_
0
said he was at the
Anbaseador Hotel in Los Angeles
9
California during the
evening of June 4 and early morning of Juine 5, 1963.
About 12:154 0n June Jleft the press rOOm
and went Lo Roop 359 where he telephoned his Raxer .
On the way , he net 241 old Eriend tno
aLs0 had 3 roon on the third floor of the hotel
0
Ta 9 deseribed as ar advance nahl for KEEINEDY_
About five minutes later , pounded OrL 9
'door and called "Sonebody has been shot 0 " sid
someonle in the hall cold then he heard KENNEDY had been
shoz. H rushed t0 the Enbassy Roor and saw 2
large group of hysterical people. One of the persons
S21 Was Mrs who told
KENNEDZ had been taken to thle Central Receiving Hospitol_
9
Icalled his office in New York and ther Fent
to the Central Receiving Hospital and iater to che
Good Samoriton Hospital
0
furnished rhe iane; of the folloving
Persons Tiho were at 0r near the scene 0f the shooting:
"Boston Globe" , Boston, Massachusetts
Heerst: Papers, Washington, Da C.
"Boston Gloise" ", Boston , Massachusetts
R reporter for the "Washingion Post"
219
On_ 6/21/.68
at
Mashingtcn,_D C File #__ HZO 173-135
by SA R RDA Dafc dictated 6121168
This documcnt conloins ncither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: Ii is the property of the FBl ond is looned t0 your cgency:
it and its contents arc not fo be distribufcd oufside Your ogency:
5 ,
2gai1
==================================================
Page 37
==================================================
WFO 173-135
PDA:rda
2
said he heard SIRILAN SIRHAN had been
hanging around tle press roon earlier in the evening but
he could not recall having
seen SIRHAN chere
als0 said he could not recall ever having seen SIREAN SIRHAN
anyihere_
0
II Jsaid he covered the campaign of
Senator ROBERT FRANCIS KENNEDY for the" Nev York Daily Ners"
in Indiana , Oregon , South Dakcota and Californiae
280
==================================================
Page 38
==================================================
FD 302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date_
6-25-68
Boston Globe, Boston, Mosgachusetts $
advised he represented his paper in the coverage of Senator
ROBERT F; KENTEDY ' 8 campaign in the California prinary
election.
H stated be did not know the ressot}
Senator KENNEDY changed his plans concerning his going to
the Ambasgador Roon after bl8 speech following the June 4th
prinary .
stated he observed SIRHAN B. SIRHAN when
be w8s
geized irmediately after the shooting. He stated
he had never seen SIRHAN on any previous occasion
stated that earller on that evening; ne
observed an individual Nbo resembled SIRHAN but who definitely
was not SIRHAN . H stated he net thle individuel just
efter Senator KENNEDY began his tolk in waich he thanked
his workers and the voters for the victory.
stated that he could not hear the speech
very Well and entered the Colonial Room 80 he could Natch
1t On TV . He stated the rooi contalned about 12 working
press and TV men . stated that there Nere two
becurity men at the door or the Colonial Room checking
presb credential8-.
He" gtated that just inside the door of the Colontal
Room he wia S approsched & young @an who asked if he
Would give the young Ian the press credentzals 1 had
hanging around his neck on a chain. said "hat he
cpula not d that and the young man Ranred to knom wbat
H intended to d0 Nith the credentials after tbe affair
wa8 over A gave him some answer and rid of
but noted that dlie rello was very persistent and even wanted
t0 knon where he could similar' credentials .
did not observc thin man egain. He recalled
the young man' & deccription a8 follows:
201
On' 6-19-68_= Boaton; #agbaehugetts File #_Boston 4lt545
by 84 Jip Date dictated 5-25-58
This document contoins neilher recommenadlons nor conclusions of Ihe FBI. Ilis Ihe Property of the FBI ond is looned to Your agency;
il ond ils conlenls are nol lo be distributed oulside Your ogency.
why
py
Eot nin,
get
at_
==================================================
Page 39
==================================================
2_
BS 44-545
Race: White
19
Height:
Weight: 135 pounds
Hair: Daric brown, curly
Conplexion: Dark , appeared to be possibly
of Mexican extraction
Clothing: Not recalled Wore "FT 109"
tie clip and several badges
including a KENNEDY a
MC CARTHY badge and a Peace
Voice: Normal, no accent noted
H stated he wa? amazed that this man had
evidently gained entry to the Colonial Room despite the
fact that security men were positioned at the room ' $
entrance_
282
Age:
5'8"
badge ,
badge.
==================================================
Page 40
==================================================
FD-302 (Rov. 4-15.64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Dale_
6[24168
Mr . P correspondent for the
"Washington Star" newspaper furnished the following
information:
He was assigned to the campaign Party of the late
Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY
9
and was with the party in Oregon
and California.
At the time of the shooting in the Anbassador
Hotel
9
Mr H was in the press headquarters located in
the Colonial Room of the hotel
Sometime during the evening of June
9
the press
corps was advised by an unrecalled person that Senator
KENNEDY would come to the Colonial Roon for a press conference.
The election returns were coming in slowly , and tlie Senator
was delayed.
While In the Colonial Room , Mr heard shots
in the nearby kitchen area , and immediately rushed out to
see what had happened .
After determining that Senator KENNEDY had been shot,
he sawv a man later identified as STRILAN SIRIAN struggling
with several persons .
Mr. advised he had never seer SIRELAN SIRHAN
before, either on the campaign or earlier in the evening
He did not see or notice any wOman in a
polka dot
dress .
When he learned that Senator KENNEDY would attend
2 press conference in the Colonial Room; he either assumed or
heard the Senator would cQne through the_kitchen area from the
Embassy Room which he described a5 being "jammed"
283
On 6/21L58_at_ ~ashington_ DC FIle #_ WFO_173-135
by SA ssb Date dictated 6[21/38_
Thls document conlalns nollhor rocommandollons nor concluslons of Ihe FBL: I Is the proporty ol Iho FBl ond" Is loonod to Your agencyi
If ond Ils conlonls dro Gofto bo dlafribulod oulside Your agency
==================================================
Page 41
==================================================
WFO 173-135
2
Mr . noticed the following persons in the
kitchen area after ths shooting within seconds after
hearing the shots:
Washington, D.C. "Look" magazine
writer.
Newhouse Newspapers
3
Washington, D,C
or "Boston Globe"
9
Boston
Massachusetis
Mr. also advised he had interviewed 2 uniformed
security guard who claimed to have been Leading Senator
KENNEDY the arn when he was shot The guard 8 name is
Mr_ H1 Was not aware of the security firm who
employed
284
by
==================================================
Page 42
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 1-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date 7154/68
Los Angeles ,
telephone number advised that he was a volunteer
worker for Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY and he furnished the
following information with respect to his knowledge of the
events of June 4 and June 5, 1968 , at the Ambassador Hotel
where Senator KENNEDY was shot:
At approximately 8:00
or 9:00 p. m. on June 4 , 1968,
he went to the Embassy Room of the Ambassador Hotel He
s tayed there until the speech;and he was on the platform,
during the Senator S
speech, directly behind the Senator and
nert to RI Due to the mobility
on the stand
he does not recall who was close to him during the
speech
The original exit plan was for the Senator to gO to
his right into the press room area and then back through the
kitchen area to the Colonial Room _ Jus t prior to the ending of the
speech, one of the Senator S assis tants asked
nim how they would make their exit from the s tage _
decided to make a corridor 80 the Senator could exit in that
direction; however, the Senator went through the curtains
direc beh ind him_ He said he followed tha Senator and was
just about to proceed from the semi-room area, behind the
curtains_ into the kitchen passagewey through a doorway when
an
individual
with a portable television camera came int? the
area He held the door for this individual and then proceeded
behind the Senator who was approxima tely 25 feet in front of
him He noticed that the Senator shook hands with several
employees in the kitchen area
The next thing he knew was that he heard a sound which
sounded like 8 firecracker There was a loud sDund followed
by several rapid firecracker type sounds which he later Learned
were shots He noticed slight wWisps of smoke rise from the
general area where the Senator was ana that the Senator turned
slightly to his left After the first shot had been fired, he
did not reaLize that it wa S a shot; however , by the third shot
he then realized that shooting, in fact, was
taking place_
On
3/1o/68 at Los Angeles California File # Los AngeLes 56-156
285
by SA alm Date dictated
7/12 /68
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBl and is loaned to
your ngency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
They
tly
==================================================
Page 43
==================================================
2
LA 56-156
He then observed someone an individual who he
later learned was SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN and then Rl
G and R grabbed S IRHAN placed a bear
around SIRHAN lifting him off the floor and placing him
along side the ice machine in the kitchen passageway SIRHAN
was fighting very hard and put up a tremendous 8 truggLe for
such a sma 11 man He noticed that SIRHAN had a gun in his hand
but that he was quickly subdued _
He observed and noticed that he was
bleeding profusely, Which gave nim the impression that Si
was injured more seriously than the Senator Several people
immediately gave attention to following the shooting.
He noticed that the area was one of general confus that
there were individuels on the s team tables and that calls
for doctors were going out He and several other volunteers
in the crowd ma de a semi-circle isolating the Senator and
8 from the rest of the crowd Many cameramen and
television reporters were pushing and shoving, trying to get
on the scene They permitted one fat Jewish doctor to the
area followed by another Jewish doctor with a medium frame then
a third doctor named M arrived on the scene He could
see the Senator fram his position n tha semi-circle around
him and noticed tha t the Senator ' s eyes Were open and that
there was lateral mobility in them The Senator' 8 eyes became
glazed and finally closed He noticed Several individuals
kneeling by the Senator and but he does not recall who
they were
He naxt recalls com ing into the area
followed by S tha Senator brother in-lew, and
several other doctors The doors to the area were then closed,
and calls were made for ic2, sheets , and tablecloths It was
then that most of the employees were cleared from the area
During this period he als? observed several of the other
victims who had been shot One individual} who had been shot
in the was sitting in the corner while the ABC television
man who was shot was lying on the floor He a Ls0 saw the
middle aged
woman who had been shot,being led from the area
with blood on her forahead Someone went for a stretcher or
Went for ma terial to make but at that time an ambulance
L
286
~
greb
hug
ion,
1S
128;
one ,
==================================================
Page 44
==================================================
3
LA 56-156
arrived end theSenator was removed Another ambulance also
cane and F S and the other victims were removed _ It
was then that tne LoS Angeles Police Depertment arrived in
force, isolating the area He s ta ted that previously there
were several officers in the area
He recalls that when the shooting occurred , someone
made the comment that either or they were getting
away . He do2s not recall seeing 8 fema le Caucasian dressed
in a polke dot dress in the area He noticed a1s3 that al1
the kitchen help appeared to be Spanish-Americans He was
shown a photograph of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN and he advised
that several weeks prior to the shooting of Senator KENNEDY
5 the Senator spoke at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles and that
the S tage area from Which Senator KENNEDY spoke had seven
permanent chairs on it_ Several of the cha irs
7
t? the Sena tor !8
left as he addressed the eudience iwere vacant 48 the Sena tor
addressed the audience, a white ma le in bis early 208 , 5 feet
3 inches 5 feet 6 inches tall, 130 145 pounds
9
swarthy
complexion, and dressed in blue jeans and a white "T" shirt
cama onto the s tage and occupied one of the permanent chairs
to the Senator' 8 left_ He stated that this individual bears
an ex tremely close resemblance to SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN and
in his opinion could be identical to him He stated that
at this speech many newsmen were present and that he 1s certain
thct films were made of the speech
5
end tha t perhaps a review
of those films would identify the individual as described
above
287
she , he ,
==================================================
Page 45
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
1 Date
7/10/68
Mr J formerly of the United Press International
and now assoc1ated with and associates Wilghire
Boulevard telephone phoned on July 9,
'i988, foliowieg
attempts to contact him, and advised the foliowing:
Mr stated that he had arrived at the Embassy Roon
of the Anbassador Hotel on the early morning or June 5, 1968,
about twenty minutes after Senator ROBERT F. KENNEDY had been
shot Consequently he was not a witness to the shooting. He
made certain notes of' potential witnesses among persons he en-
countered during the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Among the names of potential witnesses H had gathered
the following included:
"C (LNU)
Assistant to Councilman spoke of having
seen the shooting.
who was being interviewed by television newsmai
and he appeared hysterical while describing the incident of
the shooting.
3
Studio reportedly on KENNEDY
Campaign Staff
5
white male early 208 , 5' 3"
9
dark hair.
Claims he had seen SIRHAN SIRHAN _
Captain of waiters
5
Ambas sador Hotel
LAe
waiter
waiter
M waiter
not known if he ac tually saw the shooting
although he was talking in area of Embassy Room, Ambassador
Hotel about half hour after the shooting. No further description
recalled _
On 79/63 at Los Angeles, CaliforniaFile # Los_Angeles_56_156
288
by SA Ymdm Date dictated
710/63
Thig document contains neither recommendationg nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
City,
==================================================
Page 46
==================================================
2
IA 56-156
R who struggled with SIRHAN SIRHAN _
J (phonetic spelling) who also reported he
aided in the capture of SIRHAN SIRHAN _ No further description
recalled _
289
==================================================
Page 47
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
6/28/68
Date
a messenger for the Rocket
Messenger Service wa 8 contacted at the dispatch office
of this firm at Los eles He
furnished the following information :
He ha: worked 38 a mess enger for Rocket for
approxima six months He lives at
California
2
and ha: telephone number
The night of the Senator KENNEDY agas8ina tion
he wa8 a88igned 48 a mesg enger to SYLVIA WRIGHT , a Life
magazine photographer He was on at the Anbagsador
Hotel in this capacity fron approximately 8:00 p . m until
9.30 p.m., at which time he was sent to the airport with
some photographs by W He returned to the hotel at
approximately 10:30 p.m. He did not find in the
Press Room 80 went up to the third or fourth floor where
she had told hin her room was He did not remember the
number but fina found her room and reported hie return
from the a irport Then, he went back to the Pre8s Room to
s tand by at her request He was waiting in and about the
Press Room from then until about midnight Several person8
who appeared to be membere of the KENNEDY party came through
the Press Room, and he heard them saying in effect tha t
KENNEDY would be coming out through the kitchen
area Which wa8 immediately adjacent to the Press Room
then wa lked into the adjacent a-ea to ry to
find a better position from which he could watch Sena tor
KENNEDY depart It was 80 crowded in there, however, that
he had to return to the Press Room The Press Room wa g
separated from the adjacent area by two sets of swinging
doors
He wa $ waiting in the Press Room when suddenly
ne heard a s eries of shots fired He commented that they were
definitely shots and that they certainly did not sound like
firecrackers to him He jumped up and rushed into the adjacent
6/21/68 Lof Angeles , Ca lifornia Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
290
SA b
6/24/68
by Date dictated
This document containg neither recommendationg nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and itg contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
Ang
tely
duty
1ly
==================================================
Page 48
==================================================
2
IA 56-156
area through the 8winging doors Into a surge of person8 trying
to through the doors and into the adjacent area When he
finally squeezed into the area, he saw the assa88in being
held down by a number of persons who were; at the same time,
trying to protect him from others swinging at him and tear-
ing at his clothing- remembered that the assassin' 8
hand, still gripping a pistol, was being tightly held down
on a flat surface, Which H thought was a table or
counter Several minutes later, two policemen entered,
took the assassin from the persons who were holding him
and_walked out with him, immediately in front of H
said the assassin was quite disheveled and messed
up , H said he had never seen the man before
stood for until approximately
1:30 a.m. that morning, although he did not perform any
other mebsenger service He sa1d had taken a number
of other photographs , but as a result of a phone call one
of her fellow workers made to the magazine headquarters
back East, it was decided that her asgociate would personally
take the photographs from the Ambassad01 out to the airport
and on to the magazine headquarters, which he thought was
in Chicago _
291
F
get
by
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Page 49
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
1 6/19/68
Date
Mr Reporter for "the Los
M Ange les Times
5
who resides at
Los Angeles , telephone number VO luntarily furnished
the following information:
On June 1968, he was assigned by his peper
to cover the MAX RAFFERTY function at the Ambassador Hotel.
He recalled arriving at the hotel at approxima 5:0o PM
He obtained the necessary RAFFERTY and KENNEDY press cards
and for 8 period of several hours he moved about the
various rooms designated for the
different political
parties ,
such as the Regency Room the Embassy Room and the Colonial
Room At approximately 11:00 PM , he was in the Colonial
Room _
9
which was reserved for members of the press and heard
Senator KENNEDY S speech on television. He did not g3 into
the Embassy Room during Senator KENNEDY ' s speech The
people in the Colonial Room received word at the end of
Senator KENNEDY ' s speech that the Senator was coming to the
Colonial Room He does not recall who brought this message
but assumes that it was one of the KENNEDY aides This
was shortly after midnight
In the early morning of June 5, 1968
9
shortly
after they received word that Senator KENNEDY was coming to
the Colonial Room , he heard a rapid series of muffled pops ,
perhaps six of these sounds He immediately felt that the
sounds were gunshots The door between the Colonial Room
and the kitchen was closed He immediately rushed from the
Colonial Room into the kitchen in time to see Senator
KENNEDY s lumping to the floor He recalled see ing blood
on the right side of the Senator 1s face and noticed a strong
light, possibly a television light, shining in the area
of the Senator
He did not see suspect SIRHAN SIRHAN initially
upon entering the kitchen or observe the struggle in which
the suspect was originally involved in after the shooting.
6/18/68 Los Angeles , California Los Angeles 156
On at File #
292
SA a81 6/18/68
by Date dictated
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI ad i8 loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
w %
tely
56-
==================================================
Page 50
==================================================
2
LA 56-
A short while later, he did see the individual later identified
as suspect SIRHAN SIRHAN pinned down on the service counter
in the kitchen SIRHAN was surrounded by approximately
eight people who were
holding him secure The suspect
still had 8
pistol in his hand Later
9
he saw that Rl
was holding the short snub nose pistol_ Mr H
stated that he did not see the actuel Shooting nor the
original scuffle with the suspect in which the suspect was
apprehended _ Mr H was unable t) say from his Own
personal know ledge tnat suspec t SIRHAN ac tually fired the
gun The individual who was being restrained was the same
individual arrested by the police later and subsequently
identified as SIRHAN SIRHAN.
Mr recalled that there were perhaps a
total of" 40 people in the Colonial Rooin _ Most of the people
were news people and inc luded several women operating teletype
machines He did recall seeing a few people in the room
whom he thought at that time were not assoclated with the
news media _
He recalled recognizing the following news people
in the Colonlal Room
Mr J of CBS
Mr A associated with English
television, who i5 based in the United States
I Mr W_ Sf the York Times
Shortly after the KENNEDY shooting, Mr_ H
taked with severel individuals who may have been eyewitnesses
to the KENNEDY shooting. These individuals were as follows :
Electrical Technician for Universal
Culver citv Ca LiRarnia
293
Fn
156
ly .
"New