</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date 5/26/68 Miss ONDINE VAUGHN, also known as Kathleen Vaughn, Room 236, Sunset Marguis Hotel, 1200 Alta Loma Drive, Los Angeles, California, actress and photographer, related for following: She expects to be at the above address for two or three weeks ago and go to New York City, where she can be reached at 170 West 3rd Street, Apartments 9-D, telephone 787-5087. She may remain in the Los Angeles area for a while longer and she so can be reached at 2256 Pacific Coast Highway, and Apartment 11, Malibu, California. Miss VAUGHn, who had been doing some free lance photography in New York and who had had a contract to do work for the "New York" and then had recently been traveling with the "NEW YORKER" P. KENNEDY campaign party. She was present in the Embassy Room at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California, on the early morning of June 5, 1968. She did not California, and on the Early Morning of June 6, 1968, she did not was in the press area overlooking the Embassy Rooms. She also collected a number of photographs of the party in the embassy Room which she sent to STEVE SHAPIRO in New YORK City, New York. He markets photographs, and can be contacted through Black Star, 450 Park Avenue South, New York, Now York. The film still shots are in black and white. She expected to have copies of the film in two or three weeks. She will make it. to examine it. The film available to the FBI if it is desired Following examination of photographs Of SIRHAN SIRIAN SIRIHAN and his brothers, Miss VAUGHIN said she had no recollection of having ever seen any of these persons at any time. 6/21/68 Los Angeles, California on Los Angeles 56-156 SA RICHARD M. WOOLF and - 398 - SA LESLEY F. WARREN LEW/sro Date dictated 6/25/68 by This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency, it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE 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, along with investigative records related to the event and its aftermath. Multiple witnesses provided descriptions of the suspect, including a man with dark features wearing a blue denim shirt and tan pants, later identified as Sirhan Sirhan. Accounts describe gunshots initially mistaken for firecrackers or balloon pops, followed by chaos and evacuation. Witnesses such as ONDINE VAUGHN (Kathleen Vaughn) noted photography of the event, while others like LISA LYNN URSO described the suspect’s appearance and actions. JOHN PAUL VIZANKO, a cameraman, observed bloodstains and Kennedy’s fall but did not see the shooter. STEVEN B. WAGNER reported post-shooting car activity near Normandy Avenue, possibly linked to the suspect’s escape. Michael Laurence Wayne provided detailed movements through the hotel, including proximity to Kennedy and observations of the press area. Mrs. Mary Whalen described an unknown male with a leather object during the speech, potentially a transmitter. PAY WHITE noted denied access to the Embassy Room and heard a scream post-shooting. Lloyd B. Wilkins and Jack Winterns attended the event but could not enter the room, reporting gunshots via television monitors. Johnny Lorenzo Williams observed Elizabeth Evans with blood on her head and no sighting of Sirhan Sirhan. Earl C. Williams described a dark-skinned man in his 50s engaged in a struggle with security personnel. Warren G. Wilson, a radio broadcaster, reported chaos post-event. Jim Wilson, a CBS photographer, filmed the speech, heard two shots, and noted Ethel Kennedy’s actions. Jules J. Witcover detailed the Embassy Room layout and initial confusion over gunshots. The FBI conducted interviews via FD-302 forms, documenting testimonies and linking Sirhan Sirhan to political tensions. Sirhan’s father, Bishara Sirhan, provided statements in Amman attributing his son’s actions to Kennedy’s rhetoric. Visa records for Shareef Sirhan (born July 13, 1921, in Jerusalem) and Saidallah Sirhah include non-quota visa applications, claims of persecution, and administrative notes from the U.S. Department of State dated December 21, 1959.  

Key People  
- **ONDINE VAUGHN (Kathleen Vaughn)**: Photographer present at the Embassy Room; sent photos to Steve Shapiro.  
- **LISA LYNN URSO**: Kennedy supporter in San Diego; described suspect’s appearance and witnessed shooting.  
- **JOHN PAUL VIZANKO**: Cameraman at the Ambassador Hotel; observed aftermath but did not see shooter.  
- **STEVEN B. WAGNER**: Volunteer worker noted post-shooting car activity near Normandy Avenue.  
- **MICHAEL LAURENCE WAYNE**: Kennedy admirer with detailed account of hotel movements and press area observations.  
- **MARY WHALEN**: Witnessed unknown male with leather object during speech, possibly a transmitter.  
- **PAY WHITE**: Volunteer worker denied entry to Embassy Room; heard scream post-shooting.  
- **LLOYD B. WILKINS** & **JACK WINTERNS**: Attended hotel event but could not enter Embassy Room; reported gunshots via TV monitors.  
- **JOHNNY LORENZO WILLIAMS**: Noted Elizabeth Evans with blood, no sighting of Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **EARL C. WILLIAMS**: Described dark-skinned man in 50s engaged in struggle with security personnel.  
- **WARREN G. WILSON**: Radio broadcaster reported chaos post-event.  
- **JIM WILSON**: CBS photographer; filmed speech, heard shots, noted Ethel Kennedy’s actions.  
- **JULES J. WITCOVER**: Newhouse National News Service correspondent; detailed Embassy Room layout and initial confusion over gunshots.  
- **SIRHAN SIRHAN**: Suspect identified as shooter; described as medium-statured man with dark features wearing blue denim shirt and tan pants.  
- **BISHARA SIRHAN**: Father of Sirhan Sirhan; provided statements in Amman attributing son’s actions to political tensions.  
- **SHAREEF SIRHAN**: Visa applicant for U.S.; born July 13, 1921, in Jerusalem, Palestine; claimed persecution and requested asylum.  
- **SAIDALLAH SIRHAH**: Possibly related to Shareef Sirhan (family member or associate).  
- **RUTH M. BLACK**: Representative of World Council of Churches; provided assurance for Sirhan’s visa application.  
- **SYLVIA WRIGHT** & **KRISTI WITKER**: Journalists covering Kennedy’s campaign and hotel events.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of RFK’s speech and assassination; included Embassy Room, Colonial Room, kitchen corridor, press room, and Ballroom.  
- **Embassy Room**: Where Kennedy delivered his speech; described as having a speaker’s rostrum, ABC TV equipment, and a corridor leading to the Colonial Room via the kitchen.  
- **Colonial Room**: Location where witnesses observed aftermath of shooting and interactions with security personnel.  
- **Sunset Marguis Hotel, Los Angeles**: Address associated with ONDINE VAUGHN.  
- **Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles**: CBS television room.  
- **Normandy Avenue, Los Angeles**: Post-shooting car observation noted by STEVEN B. WAGNER.  
- **Crawford High School, San Diego**: Affiliation of LISA LYNN URSO.  
- **Amman, Jordan**: Location of BISHARA SIRHAN’s statements regarding his son’s actions.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968: RFK Assassination**: Occurred at the Ambassador Hotel during a campaign event; witnesses reported gunshots initially mistaken for firecrackers or balloons.  
- **Witness Accounts of Shooting**: Discrepancies in descriptions of suspect (e.g., Sirhan Sirhan’s appearance), number of shots fired, and post-shooting chaos.  
- **Struggle Post-Shooting**: A man holding a gun was subdued by security personnel; Kennedy was removed via the kitchen corridor to an ambulance.  
- **Media Coverage**: CBS and NBC photographers documented events; television monitors in the Ballroom provided live coverage.  
- **Security and Press Interactions**: Details about press access to Kennedy, security measures at the hotel, and interactions with the Rocket Messenger Service.  
- **Sirhan Sirhan’s Father’s Statements**: Bishara Sirhan provided statements in Amman, linking his son’s actions to political tensions and Kennedy’s rhetoric.  
- **Visa Application Process for Shareef Sirhan**: Non-quota visa application reviewed by U.S. Department of State; included claims of persecution in Palestine and request for asylum.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews via FD-302 forms, documented witness testimonies, and investigated Sirhan Sirhan’s background.  
- **CBS** & **NBC**: Media outlets involved in coverage of RFK’s speech and aftermath; included television rooms at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **Newhouse National News Service**: Employer of JULES J. WITCOVER, provided news reports from the event.  
- **Rocket Messenger Service**: Involved in delivering materials to Kennedy’s campaign team during the event.  
- **World Council of Churches**: Provided assurance for Shareef Sirhan’s visa application via RUTH M. BLACK.  
- **United States Department of State**: Handled visa applications for Shareef Sirhan and Saidallah Sirhah, including administrative reviews and final decisions dated December 21, 1959.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-x-4_sec_002_ser_300-608-part_3_of_7.pdf

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