</s>1440 CLASSIFICATION NO. Volume Number Serialis 145.657 Do not destroy UNTIL L-97 RE/L.97 Rev/L-97 Rev/LS/ Bureau of Lawyer FEDERING LITERATION BUREAU FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER NY - NEW YORK CITY NY - New York CITY Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # Class /Case # Serial # 0444 1640 4 445 651 INVESTIGATION Bureau File Number - 6-57 12/13/11143572 Bureau Files Number -6-57 Bureau's File Number RFPOOSAMCRU RFPPOOSAMCRI See also Yes. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The document contains FBI investigative records, memoranda, and administrative notes related to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The perpetrator, identified as Sirhan Bishara (referred to as "STIRHAN" or "STIRIAN B. SIRIAN" in some records), shot RFK with a .22 caliber revolver in the kitchen area adjacent to the Embassy Ballroom during a victory rally on June 5, 1968. The FBI and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) collaborated to interview hotel guests and staff for information on potential conspiracies or witness accounts. FD-302/PD-302 forms were prepared by individuals such as Arthur Schwartz, Joseph Ginsburg, Lester Smith, Frank Owen, Dieter Strand, and Neil Micelotta, with some witnesses recanting earlier statements. A diagram of the hotel’s layout was referenced to detail the shooting location. The case faced challenges including inconsistent date formatting (e.g., "6/58/68" likely intended as "6/5/68") and logistical details such as travel arrangements for witnesses handled by a Commercial Travel Agency. Trial dates were tentatively scheduled for November 1968.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Bishara** (perpetrator, referred to as STIRHAN or STIRIAN B. SIRIAN)  
- **Robert F. Kennedy** (assassinated senator)  
- **Arthur Schwartz** (hotel guest interviewed by FBI)  
- **Joseph Ginsburg** (individual submitting FD-302 forms with no relevant information)  
- **Lester Smith** (registered hotel guest, interviewed by FBI)  
- **Frank Owen** (interviewed by FBI)  
- **Dieter Strand** (hotel reporter who did not witness the shooting; stayed at Belmont Plaza Hotel in New York City)  
- **Neil Micelotta** (hotel guest who initially claimed to have seen the shooting but later recanted)  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California** (scene of assassination and hotel layout diagram referenced)  
- **Embassy Ballroom** (location of RFK’s rally and shooting area)  
- **Kitchen area** (specific location within the hotel where the shooting occurred)  
- **Belmont Plaza Hotel, New York City** (where Dieter Strand stayed during his visit)  

Key Events  
- **Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy** on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- FBI and LAPD investigation into potential conspiracies and witness accounts.  
- Interviews with hotel guests, staff, and journalists (e.g., Dieter Strand) to gather information.  
- Preparation and submission of FD-302/PD-302 forms for case documentation.  
- Tentative trial date set for November 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations, prepared reports, and coordinated with LAPD.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Requested FBI assistance in reviewing hotel guest records and interviewing witnesses.  
- **District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles County**: Received FD-302/PD-302 forms for case review.  
- **Commercial Travel Agency** (handled travel arrangements for some witnesses).

RFK Declassified Files

44-ny-1640_sec_004_ser_445-651-part_1_of_7.pdf

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