Summary  
The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy occurred on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Sirhan Bishara Siharan was identified as the perpetrator, having fired multiple shots at Kennedy during a campaign event. Medical reports from Good Samaritan Hospital detail severe injuries, including a bullet wound to the brain, severed arteries, and spinal cord damage, leading to Kennedy’s death on June 6, 1968. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted investigations, with Mayor Tom Bradley and LAPD Chief William H. Parker overseeing suspect identification and public information management. Other casualties included Elizabeth Evans, Paul Schrade, and others wounded during the shooting. Sirhan was arrested, charged with murder, and later faced legal proceedings in Los Angeles Superior Court. Kennedy’s body was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on June 8, 1968, alongside his brother, President John F. Kennedy. The investigation included forensic analysis of the weapon, witness testimonies about Sirhan’s appearance and actions, and administrative records detailing court hearings, legal motions, and international concerns regarding his trial.  

Key People  
- Robert F. Kennedy (victim)  
- Sirhan Bishara Siharan (suspect, perpetrator)  
- Mayor Tom Bradley (Los Angeles)  
- William H. Parker (LAPD chief)  
- Dr. Henry Cuneo (surgeon at Good Samaritan Hospital)  
- Dr. Henry O'Connor (medical team member)  
- Elizabeth Evans (wounded victim)  
- Paul Schrade (UAW official, wounded)  
- Evelyn J. Younger, Jr. (district attorney overseeing trial)  
- Judge Arthur A. Alcon (oversaw legal proceedings)  
- Wilbur Littelfield (public defender representing Sirhan)  
- Jeane Dixon (predicted RFK’s assassination)  
- James Matthews (linked to predictions about RFK’s fate)  

Key Locations  
- Los Angeles, California (scene of the shooting; Ambassador Hotel, Good Samaritan Hospital)  
- Arlington National Cemetery (burial site for Kennedy)  
- Washington, D.C. (FBI and press conference locations)  
- Pasadena, California (Sirhan’s family home under police guard)  
- Sacramento, California (gun-tracing context)  
- St. Louis (implied in legal documents)  

Key Events  
- June 5, 1968: Robert F. Kennedy shot at the Ambassador Hotel; three bullets fired, one penetrating his brain.  
- June 6, 1968: Kennedy declared dead after medical efforts failed.  
- June 8, 1968: Kennedy’s funeral and burial at Arlington National Cemetery.  
- Investigation by LAPD and FBI into suspect identification and evidence collection.  
- Legal proceedings for Sirhan, including court hearings, motions for continuance, and attorney assignments.  
- Witness testimonies describing Sirhan’s appearance (polka-dotted clothing) and actions during the shooting.  
- Tracing of the assassination weapon through California’s computer system.  
- Court hearing postponements and rescheduling of Sirhan’s trial to August 2, 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)  
- Good Samaritan Hospital (medical care for Kennedy)  
- Los Angeles Superior Court (handled Sirhan’s legal case)  
- U.S. Justice Department (cooperated with LAPD and prosecutors)  
- California Attorney General’s Office (legal documentation context)  
- News Outlets (e.g., UPI, The Washington Post) (reported on events and legal developments)

RFK Declassified Files

173-wfo-135_volume_1_sub_d-part_1_of_2.pdf

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