</s>PD-302 Rev. 4:1564 FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date: 10/3/68 Mr ., and Mrs. JAMES S. EASTHAM, 16 Alden Road, Andover, Massachusetts provided the following information: They were guests at the Ambassador Hotel in Los. Angeles, California until shortly after breakfast on June 5, 1968 when they left by train for San Francisco to get the President Line Ship, Cleveland, for a trip to Japan. Neither of them were aware that ROBERT P. KENNEDY had been shot until they arrived in San Francisco and had a hard time obtaining a paper. They have absolutely no information concerning the shooting of KENNEOY, they are in possession of no in- formation concerning a possible conspiracy; they do not know SIRIHAN, SIRIHAM, and they did not see KENNECY or SIRIAN at the hotel. On-9/26/68 -at Andover, Massachusettts File# Boston 44-646-F3 by SA CARL J. EVENSEN/mrd Date dictated 9/2668 This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the Fbi and is licensed to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

Summary  
The document contains FBI records detailing the investigation into Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. Key accounts include witness statements from Donald DOWD, a campaign worker who observed an individual near the Embassy Room and Coconut Grove Club during RFK’s visit. The suspect was described as possibly Greek, Italian, or South American, aged 52–53, with dark hair, a stocky build, and wearing a dark suit. DOWD also noted incidents of campaign posters being torn but could not identify perpetrators. Joseph Scanlon, another campaign worker, reported seeing an individual removed from the Coconut Grove Club area by aides. The FBI interviewed witnesses such as Gene Della, John V. KENNY (a Providence College student who allegedly photographed the scene), and others to gather details about the shooting. A diagram of the hotel’s kitchen corridor, where Kennedy was shot, is referenced, along with FD-392 forms documenting interviews. Norman Jacques, a Rhode Island State Senator, described his position near the Embassy Ballroom stage, noting RFK’s movements and observing two individuals behind the curtain (later identified as hotel staff). John V. KENNY recounted being on the stage during RFK’s speech, capturing photographs of RFK exiting through a kitchen corridor where he heard an explosion and saw a man restrained by Roselve Grier. The FBI compiled these accounts alongside photographic evidence and hotel layout diagrams as part of its investigation.  

Key People  
- **Donald DOWD**: Campaign worker who observed a suspect near the Embassy Room and Coconut Grove Club, described the suspect’s physical appearance.  
- **Joseph Scanlon**: Campaign worker who reported seeing an individual removed from the Coconut Grove Club area.  
- **Gene Della**: Mentioned as potentially having information about the suspect.  
- **John V. KENNY**: Providence College student who allegedly took photographs of RFK during his speech and witnessed an incident in the kitchen corridor.  
- **Norman Jacques**: Rhode Island State Senator who attended the Embassy Ballroom event, observed individuals behind the curtain, and noted RFK’s movements.  
- **Roselve Grier**: Identified as a large Black male restraining an individual in the kitchen corridor.  
- **Harry McKenna**: News Director at WEAN radio station, interviewed KENNY post-event.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of the assassination; specific areas include the Embassy Room, Coconut Grove Club, kitchen corridor, and Palm Room.  
- **Coconut Grove Club**: Venue for a reception on June 2, 1968, where DOWD observed the suspect.  
- **Embassy Ballroom (Ambassador Hotel)**: Site of RFK’s speech and the shooting incident.  
- **Kitchen Corridor**: Area where the shooting occurred, referenced in accounts by Jacques and KENNY.  
- **Palm Room (Ambassador Hotel)**: Where Carol Ash and others awaited RFK’s arrival.  

Key Events  
- **Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy**: Occurred on June 5, 1968, in the kitchen corridor of the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **Observations by Donald DOWD**: Noted a suspect near the Embassy Room and Coconut Grove Club on June 2–4, 1968.  
- **Photographic Evidence**: John V. KENNY allegedly took photos of RFK during his speech; these were analyzed by the FBI Laboratory for clarity.  
- **Witness Accounts**: Jacques’ observations of individuals near the Embassy Ballroom stage and KENNY’s description of the kitchen corridor incident.  
- **Hotel Layout Diagrams**: Included in FBI records to illustrate the shooting scene.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led the investigation, conducted interviews, compiled witness statements, and managed photographic evidence via FD-392 forms.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Requested assistance from the FBI to identify suspects or witnesses.  
- **WEAN Radio Station**: Associated with photographers and journalists covering RFK’s event.  
- **New England Regional Commission**: Mentioned as an organization where DOWD was employed at the time of the assassination.

RFK Declassified Files

44-bs-646-part_4_of_5.pdf

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