</s>PD-302 (Nov. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 6/14/68 1 Date IVO KASTELAN, Waiter, Coconut Grove, Ambassador Hotel, residence 17/09 Septo Street, Northridge, phone 886-4760 advised that he was off on the evening of June 1, 1968. KASTELIAN was thereafter displayed a photograph of subject SIRHAN BISHARA SIRBHAN after which he advised that he had never seen this individual in his life. On 6/11/68 at Los Angeles, California File #1 Los Angeles 56-156 - 183 - Los Angeles 5-156 by SA NORBERT R. LINKER/sdb 6/13/68 Date dictated This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the Fbi and is learned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of FBI FD-302 interview records from June 1968 detailing accounts from hotel staff and employees at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968. Interviews focused on witness statements regarding their presence during the event, observations of gunfire or commotion, and familiarity with SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN (later identified as Sirhan Sirhan). All interviewees were shown photographs of the suspect and confirmed no prior knowledge of him. The FBI notes these records contain no conclusions or recommendations and are restricted for external distribution.  

Key People  
- **Mrs. Florence Herzberger**: Catering Department Secretary at the Ambassador Hotel; claimed to have attended the Kennedy rally but initially mistook gunshots for balloon poppers.  
- **Anthony Messina**: Waiter at Coconut Grove; denied prior knowledge of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN.  
- **Samuel Tapia Millian**: Waiter at Coconut Grove; denied involvement or knowledge of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN.  
- **Wayne D. Mills**: Bartender at the Ambassador Hotel; reported hearing gunfire near the kitchen and observed a man attempting to retrieve a weapon from the steam table.  
- **Blaise M. Minns**: Banquet waiter; described witnessing a man in the kitchen holding a gun and later finding Kennedy lying on the floor.  
- **Erwin Moench**: Waiter at The Cave Cocktail Lounge; denied knowledge of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN.  
- **Robert Earl Mooney**: Waiter at Coconut Grove; reported being informed of the shooting by an employee and confirmed no prior knowledge of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN.  
- **Vesta Gladys Morello**: Kitchen staff member who shook Kennedy’s hand before the shooting; noted security measures at the kitchen entrance.  
- **Arthur Edwin Nyhagen**: Doorman at Wilshire Entrance Parking Lot; reported hearing two gunshots with a one-second delay between them.  
- **Jack Lubarsky**: Embassy of U.S.A.M. employee; denied seeing the suspect at the hotel.  
- **George Lyons**: Night Cleaner at the Ambassador Hotel; heard shots but not in the area of the shooting.  
- **Manuel Cuetto Machuca**: Bus Boy; denied recognizing SIRHAN BISHARA SIRIHAN.  
- **Antonio Almeida Macias**: Runner; stated he had never seen the suspect.  
- **Arthur Maddox**: Security Man; present in the Embassy Room during the shooting but did not witness it directly.  
- **Salvador Madrigal**: Bartender; worked late and was unaware of the shooting until after it occurred.  
- **George Awadis Majarian**: Jordanian waiter; expressed regret over his countryman’s arrest for RFK’s murder.  
- **Pitto Eligueta Mansitila**: Waiter; heard about the shooting via others but did not witness it.  
- **Reyes Martinez**: Waiter; heard someone mention RFK was shot but did not see him.  
- **Gilberto Mantinez-Lopez**: Waiter; witnessed RFK lying on the floor after the shooting.  
- **Addie Marie Mastel**: Coffee Shop Manager; denied recognizing SIRHAN BISHARA SIRIHAN.  
- **Mario Matute**: Part-Time Waiter; not present during the shooting.  
- **Demetrios Mavromatis**: Waiter; heard news of the shooting via radio after leaving work.  
- **Frank Storm Maxwell**: Banquet Employee; denied recognizing the suspect.  
- **Frank Melody**: Waiter; denied seeing SIRHAN BISHARAS IRIHAN.  
- **Justinio Mendz**: Waiter; had no information about the shooting.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California**: Primary location of the assassination and interviews. Specific areas include:  
  - **Embassy Room**: Where Senator Kennedy was shot during his victory speech.  
  - **Coconut Grove**: A section of the hotel where several witnesses were stationed.  
  - **Kitchen and pantry areas**: Key locations where some witnesses reported observing events or commotion.  
  - **Parking Lot**: Where Arthur Edwin Nyhagen worked as a doorman.  

Key Events  
- **Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy** on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Witnesses described gunfire near the kitchen and observed a man attempting to retrieve a weapon from the steam table.  
- **Witness accounts**: Multiple employees reported hearing gunshots, seeing a man in the kitchen with a weapon, and observing Kennedy lying on the floor. Some initially mistook the sounds as balloon poppers or car accidents.  
- **FBI investigation**: Interviews were conducted to gather witness statements and identify potential suspects, including SIRHAN BISHARA SIRIHAN, who was later identified as the perpetrator. Witnesses confirmed no prior knowledge of him.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews with hotel staff and employees to investigate the assassination.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Involved in securing the scene and coordinating with the FBI.  
- **Ambassador Hotel**: Provided personnel records and facilitated witness statements during the investigation.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-x-3_sec_001_ser_1-345-part_5_of_8.pdf

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