</s>LA 56-156 "I have seen photographs of the suspect held in the shooting of Senator Kennedy and can definitely identify him as the person who was shooting the Senator in the Ambassador Hotel early in the morning of June 5, 1968. "To my knowledge I have never seen this man before hearing the explosions of I have pistol shots and have had no contact, whatever, with him. "RE: Yaro business card in possession of LAPD. "On Wednesday Morning, June 5. James Wiggins, editor of the San Gabriel Section said that our city desk requested that I go to an address on Howard Street in I came that this was all alleged to be the suspect's home. I came from our Temple City office on Howard St. Pasadena. This was all assigned to the suspect in the home. Eastbound when I observed Richard Drew and Robert Leedom in front of a white house which was not the address I had been given. I also observed that I am unaware police car out and been given." my car and talked with Drew and Ledom-there were two- LAPD officers (detectives in plain clothes. I know this because I asked if they were LAPD or FBI and they answered they were LAPd. "No one was in the house because I could hear the phone ringing and no one answering it ... the cops didn't try to stop and one and saw myself from wandering around. I walked into the back yard and saw a box of trash. I started going through to see if there was anything around. If I could find that would give us a hint of who the suspect was where he was from. I lifted a couple of pieces of newspaper and was from ... I lifted the police car. I was looking at the scene of newspaper Drew to quick, go get the cops! I did and detective Edward Willis came back -- I showed him the slug-he looked at it, but did not attempt to pick it up. He did and a few minutes later one but was not attempting to pick him up. I gave later one of my business names, I asked him for my home phone and address which he was subsequently, and in my presence. wrote on the back of my card, which he kept. I assume this is how Los Angeles Police came to have my business card in their possession." 2025 RELEASF UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail witness accounts of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. Vincent Di Pierro, a hotel employee, described observing a white male suspect near an ice machine before the shooting. The suspect, dressed in a blue sport coat and pants with a small white check, approached Kennedy from behind, fired multiple shots, and was subdued by Rafer Johnson, Karl Uecker, and Roosevelt Grier. Di Pierro noted the suspect’s height (5’10”–5’11”), build, and clothing. Juan Antonio Romero, another busboy, recounted hearing gunfire as the suspect fired from behind Kennedy, who collapsed after being shot. Romero described the shooter as a white man in a blue jacket and sneakers, later identified as Sirhan Sirhan. Martin Patrusky, a waiter, observed the suspect on a tray rack in the kitchen area before the shooting and confirmed the same individual was involved. Stanley Kawalec, a security officer, noted crowd control efforts and heard four distinct shots during Kennedy’s speech. All witnesses emphasized the suspect’s unfamiliarity to them prior to the incident.  

KAWALEC described confusion after the shooting, noting he did not see Kennedy fall immediately but observed people moving toward the kitchen area. He mentioned a .22 caliber gun firing four shots and later assisted in crowd control. David Esquith, a volunteer at the Ambassador Hotel, stated he was near the podium during Kennedy’s speech and heard someone describe an exit route through the kitchen. He did not recall seeing Sirihan Stirian but noted a man with a hairstyle similar to his. Other witnesses, including George Green, reported hearing popping sounds initially mistaken for firecrackers before realizing they were gunshots. Acquiline Sullivan described chaos in the kitchen area, noting she did not see the shooter or any weapon. Willie Franklin, a hotel maintenance worker, confirmed hearing gunshots and people reacting but stated he had not seen the suspect. The documents also reference NBC News personnel who covered the event but did not observe the shooting.  

The document contains fragmented accounts of events surrounding RFK’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968. Darnell Johnson, a field worker for Los Angeles County Human Relations, reported witnessing the shooting and identifying a woman in a polka-dotted dress and several men near the Embassy Room. He described five individuals present: a white female with a polka-dot dress, a man identified as Sirhan Bishara (later confirmed as the suspect), and three others with specific physical descriptions. Johnson noted the group was positioned near the door through which RFK entered, and he observed a woman collapse after the shooting, later identified as Elizabeth Evans by Thomas Perez, a security guard at the hotel. Perez stated he heard seven shots in quick succession, saw a woman bleeding from the head, and assisted her before the ambulance arrived. Angelo Di Pierro, the maitre d’ at the hotel, described RFK exiting through a door behind the platform, followed by Mrs. Kennedy, and witnessing two shots fired before chaos erupted. He noted a man being held down in the pantry area. Thomas Perez also confirmed that the suspect he observed was later identified in media photographs. The FBI interviewed multiple witnesses, including Bernard M. Connors and John H. Borgman, to gather details about the incident.  

Key People  
- **Vincent Di Pierro**: Hotel employee who witnessed the shooting and described the suspect’s appearance and actions.  
- **Juan Antonio Romero**: Busboy who observed the shooter from behind Kennedy and later identified him as Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **Martin Patrusky**: Waiter who saw the suspect on a tray rack and confirmed his involvement in the attack.  
- **Stanley Kawalec**: Security officer at the Ambassador Hotel who managed crowd control and reported hearing gunfire.  
- **Sirhan Sirhan**: Identified as the suspect by multiple witnesses, described as a white male in blue clothing.  
- **KAWALEC** (witness at the scene)  
- **David Esquith** (volunteer at Ambassador Hotel)  
- **George Green** (Kennedy campaigner who saw a man with a gun)  
- **Acquiline Sullivan** (hotel worker in kitchen area)  
- **Willie Franklin** (hotel maintenance worker)  
- **June Isaacson** (supervisor at Kennedy Headquarters)  
- **Darnell Johnson**: Witness who reported seeing a woman and several men near the Embassy Room.  
- **Thomas Perez**: Security guard at the Ambassador Hotel who assisted a wounded woman and identified the suspect.  
- **Angelo Di Pierro**: Maitre d’ at the hotel who witnessed the shooting and described the aftermath.  
- **Sirhan Bishara** (later confirmed as the perpetrator): Identified by witnesses as one of the individuals present during the shooting.  
- **Bernard M. Connors, John H. Borgman**: FBI agents involved in interviewing witnesses.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel**: Site of the assassination; key areas included the Embassy Room, kitchen, and serving area.  
- **Embassy Room Stage**: Where Senator Kennedy delivered his speech before being shot.  
- **Kitchen Area**: Where the suspect approached Kennedy from behind, firing shots into the crowd.  
- **Royal Suite**: Where RFK arrived at the hotel before proceeding to the Embassy Room.  
- **Service elevator**: Used by RFK to descend to the kitchen level.  
- **Ambassador Hotel (Embassy Room level, Embassy Ballroom, fire escape door)**: Security arrangements for Kennedy’s speech on June 1, 1960.  
- **Press Room** (adjacent to Embassy Room)  
- **Pantry area of the hotel**  

Key Events  
- **Assassination**: Senator Kennedy was shot in the head by a white male suspect while exiting the Embassy Room stage.  
- **Subduing the Suspect**: The shooter was subdued by Rafer Johnson, Karl Uecker, and Roosevelt Grier after firing multiple shots.  
- **Witness Accounts**: Multiple hotel employees provided detailed descriptions of the suspect’s appearance, actions, and clothing.  
- **Identification**: Witnesses confirmed the suspect as Sirhan Sirhan, later identified as the perpetrator.  
- **Confusion After Shooting**: KAWALEC described confusion post-shooting, noting people moving toward the kitchen area and a .22 caliber gun firing four shots.  
- **NBC News Coverage**: NBC personnel covered the event but did not observe the shooting directly.  
- **Shooting Incident**: Seven shots were fired in quick succession, leading to chaos and injuries. Witnesses described a woman collapsing and a man being held down in the pantry.  
- **Ambulance Response**: Security personnel called for an ambulance, which arrived shortly after the shooting.  
- **Witness Identifications**: Multiple individuals confirmed seeing Sirhan Bishara and other suspects, later corroborated by media photographs.  
- **Security Arrangements**: For Kennedy’s speech on June 1, 1960, security guards were stationed at key locations, including the Embassy Ballroom entrance and fire escape door.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI**: Involved in investigating the assassination; agents like Robert P. Pickard and William A. Bailey collected witness statements.  
- **LAPD**: Took custody of the suspect after he was subdued at the hotel.  
- **Ambassador Hotel Security**: Managed crowd control during Kennedy’s speech and reported the shooting to authorities.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews with witnesses to investigate the assassination.  
- **Los Angeles County Human Relations**: Darnell Johnson was affiliated with this department.  
- **National Broadcasting Company (NBC)**: Media coverage of events.  
- **Kennedy campaign staff** (volunteers and workers at Ambassador Hotel)  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**  
- **Compton City Council**  
- **Compton Union High School Board**

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-x-1_sec_002_ser_275-619-part_3_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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