</s>OPTIONAL FORM NO. 19 SAT MAY 1, 1969 $100-00-00 SAT May 1, 1979 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum SAC, LOS ANGELES (56-156) . SAC. LOS ANGELES (6-156). .DATE: 6/19/68 TO FROM : SA WILLIE R. WHITE SUBJECT: KENSALT SUBJECT: Information was received on 6/18/68, from Mr. PAUL G. HOUSTON, HOUSTON of the "Los Angeles Times" that he recalled seeing the following news media people in the Colonial Room of the Ambassador Hotel at about the time of the Shooting of the Senator KENNEDY! JOHN HART. CBS. 1/50 -1/20 ALISTAIR COOKIE - Alistair COOKie, assigned to U. S. (well known to-local television stations) WALLACE TURNER New York Times Cot In addition to the above individuals, HOUSTON Identified the following persons as being.in the kitchen at the time Senate Kennedy was shot: Earl Williams S. EARL WILLIAMS Electrical Technician for Universal Electrical City Electrical technician for Universal -Lomp generation Age 52; residence 312 Helms Avenue MARTIN FRERRY Age 29; hotel busboy DANNY CORPIN Davuto Age 29;hotel busboy Age 19; Kennedy worker DANNEY AUBBY Representative of the Los Angeles Negro Press Bureau KARI UECKER KARI LECKER Ambassador Hotel employee To 16-7777 WW/AS1. SEARCHED INEXEDED (3) SEARCHER JUN 2 1968 JELLEY R Fbi -LOS ANGELES 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents detail FBI and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigations into the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Key elements include witness accounts of a male suspect (later identified as Sirhan Sirhan) observed near the hotel on June 5, 1968. A caller named Joseph Shedian reported seeing Sirhan at the Sports Arena on May 27, 1968, and later described him to Kennedy aides. Witnesses driving to the hotel during Kennedy’s speech noted a male and female fleeing the area, with the male claiming he witnessed Sirhan shoot Kennedy. The suspect was described as Latin-American, wearing dark clothing, and possibly having an accent. An anonymous tip identified a vehicle matching Sirhan’s description, registered to Florence N. Summers in Blythe, California. Fingerprint records linked Munir Bishara (possibly Sirhan) to prior marijuana-related charges.  

The FBI sought information about Sirhan’s movements, associates, and potential connections to the Ambassador Hotel. Leads included checking phone numbers, locations like Alhambra and Pasadena, and verifying claims about Sirhan’s presence at events such as the Ventura Shopping Center. Some documents reference interviews with witnesses, including photographers and hotel staff, and mention efforts to trace a .22 caliber gun used by Sirhan. The FBI also pursued leads involving individuals linked to the Kennedy campaign, such as Carl Heeden and William Rosey, and sought information on Sirhan’s background through school records and bar patrons.  

Witness accounts from June 1968 include Paul G. Houston of the *Los Angeles Times* recalling media figures present in the Colonial Room of the hotel, including John Hart (CBS), Alistair Cooke (British TV), and Wallace Turner (New York Times). Additional individuals identified in the kitchen area included Earl Williams (Universal Electrical technician), Martin Frerry (hotel busboy), Danny Corpin (busboy), and others. Gerald Bruno, an advance representative for RFK during the 1968 primaries, is noted as having left the hotel on June 4, 1968, after learning of RFK’s assassination. He returned to Los Angeles on June 5 and claimed ignorance of RFK’s itinerary.  

James Mo. Manus (MCMANUS), a hotel registration desk employee during the May 29–30, 1968, motorcade visit, described interactions with individuals potentially linked to Sirian. He noted a man wearing dark brown loafers and two Latin-looking men in business suits who asked about RFK’s schedule. MCMANUS also mentioned contact details for Roy Ringer (Malibu) and others present during the events. The FBI sought photographs of Sirhan and attempted to identify him through witnesses, including the Hinelins, who visited a gun shop in San Gabriel where ammunition purchases were allegedly made by Sirian.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Sirhan**: Central figure in the assassination investigation; described as a suspect with ties to the Kennedy campaign.  
- **Joseph Shedian**: Reported seeing Sirhan at the Sports Arena and later described him to Kennedy aides.  
- **Mrs. June Tackson**: Provided information about individuals associated with the Kennedy campaign, including Ann Ferguson and Tiffany Jones.  
- **Ann Ferguson**: Mentioned as a contact for potential leads on Bill Cox and others.  
- **Tiffany Jones**: Suggested as a source for information on Sirhan’s associates.  
- **Albert L. Herz**: Identified as the original purchaser of the gun used in the assassination.  
- **Carl Heeden**: A teacher at John Muir High School linked to Sirhan’s education.  
- **William Rosey**: A former teacher connected to Sirhan’s academic history.  
- **FBI Agents**: Including Paul Quinn, Willie R. White, Robert C. Holmes, and Francis M. Mullen, who coordinated interviews and investigations.  

Key Locations  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Central to the investigation, including the Ambassador Hotel where RFK was shot.  
- **Alhambra, California**: Home to Albert L. Herz, the gun’s original purchaser.  
- **Pasadena, California**: Sites include the Santa Catalina Branch Library and Pasadena City College, linked to Sirhan’s educational background.  
- **Ventura, California**: Mentioned as a location where Sirhan was allegedly photographed at the Ventura Shopping Center.  
- **Santa Monica, California**: Joseph Shedian’s residence and location where Sirhan was first observed.  
- **Sports Arena, Los Angeles**: Site where Shedian reported seeing Sirhan.  
- **Blythe, California**: Home address linked to the suspect’s vehicle registration.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.  
- **May 27, 1968**: Joseph Shedian reported seeing Sirhan at the Sports Arena.  
- **June 7–9, 1968**: LAPD and FBI interviews with witnesses describing the suspect’s appearance and actions.  
- **June 8, 1968**: Kenneth Gieg provided details about meeting Sirhan at a horse club.  
- **June 15–20, 1968**: FBI conducted interviews with witnesses, including photographers at the Ambassador Hotel and individuals connected to the Kennedy campaign.  
- **Investigation into the .22 caliber gun**: Traced back to Albert L. Herz in Alhambra, who later gave it to George Erhard.  
- **Verification of Sirhan’s presence at events**: Including the Ventura Shopping Center and potential involvement with the Joe Fyne Show in December 1967.  
- **School records review**: FBI checked teachers and staff at John Muir High School and Pasadena City College for connections to Sirhan.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led the investigation, coordinating interviews and tracking leads.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Collaborated with the FBI on cases involving Sirhan Sirhan and the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **Kennedy Campaign**: Individuals associated with the campaign were interviewed for potential links to Sirhan.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Provided official documentation and case files related to the investigation.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156_sec_004_ser_751-950-part_2_of_9.pdf

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