</s>ELECTION NIGHT AT THE HOTEL in addition to Kennedy's group, Democrat Alan Cranston and .publican Max Rafferty, eventual winners in the primary election . f : U. S. Senator, also had headquarters in the hotel. By 6 p.m. .were were many people present in the hotel including permanent russidents, members of the press, out-of-state guests, represent- litlives from a Bulova Watch Company sales meeting and General lectric product introduction meeting. Delegates were arriving for the Pacific Telephone Seminar to be held on June 6th, and others were registering for a two-day seminar for hospital admin- istrators. There was a total of 514 registered guests at the hotel. the majority of the people arriving at the hotel, however, were there to attend the anticipated election victory celebrations. Jose Cervantes, a hotel employee, checked credentials of visitors at the Embassy Room, which was reserved for the Kennedy party. beginning at 4:15 p. m ., at 6 p ., the hotel security guards arrived and were assigned by William Gardner, hotel security chief. Guards Albert Stowers and Jack Merritt were assigned to the main door of the Embassy Room to relieve Cerveantes. . The crews manning the three television mobile units in the parking lot began working and the Kennedy Anchor Desk in the Embassy Room was opened. The victory party for Alan Cranaston began in the Palm Room, and a small band started playing at that location. Stowers reported there were a large number of people in the Embassy Room by 6:30 p.M. 2025 RELEASENER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, and subsequent events including the capture of Sirhan Sirhan, medical treatment for Kennedy and other victims, and forensic analysis of the shooting. It outlines the sequence of events during election night, including Kennedy’s victory speech in the Embassy Room, interactions with staff and media, and the shooting by Sirhan Sirhan in the kitchen/pantry area. Witness accounts describe the shooting, casualties, and efforts to subdue Sirhan before police arrival. The document includes a floor plan diagram, bullet trajectory analysis, and details of medical interventions at Central Receiving Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital. Autopsy findings from June 6, 1968, confirm fatal injuries to Kennedy’s head and body, with three distinct gunshot wounds identified. Other victims, including Paul Schrade, William Weisel, and Elizabeth Evans, sustained injuries requiring hospitalization.  

Key People  
- Robert F. Kennedy (assassinated)  
- Sirhan Sirhan (perpetrator)  
- William Barry (Kennedy’s bodyguard)  
- Karl Uecker (hotel employee, witness)  
- Edward Minasian (hotel waiter captain, witness)  
- Frank Burns (campaign advisor, witness)  
- Valerie Schulte (campaign worker, witness)  
- Dolores Bellenson (witness)  
- Ronald Panda (Kennedy worker, witness)  
- Richard Lubic (witness)  
- Boris Yaro (photographer, witness)  
- Martin Patrusky (hotel waiter, witness)  
- Jack Gallivan (Kennedy aide)  
- George Plimpton  
- Glen Midby  
- Dr. Stanley Abo  
- Dr. Marvin Esher  
- Dr. Ross Matthew Miller  
- Dr. Thomas T. Noguchi (chief medical examiner)  
- Dr. John E. Holloway (pathologist)  
- Dr. Abraham L. Lu (pathologist)  
- Paul Schrade (injured victim)  
- William Weisel (injured victim)  
- Elizabeth Evans (injured victim)  

Key Locations  
- Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles) – site of assassination, press areas, and kitchen/pantry where shooting occurred  
- Embassy Room – location of Kennedy’s victory speech  
- Colonial Room – press area  
- Kitchen and pantry areas – scene of shooting and capture of Sirhan Sirhan  
- Gold Room, serving pantry, and fourth/fifth floors – press and campaign operations  
- Central Receiving Hospital – initial medical treatment for Kennedy and other victims  
- Good Samaritan Hospital – autopsy conducted on June 6, 1968, and final care for Kennedy  
- Rampart Station – police custody for Sirhan Sirhan  

Key Events  
- Election night activities at the Ambassador Hotel, including press coverage and candidate celebrations.  
- Kennedy’s victory speech in the Embassy Room, with detailed descriptions of his movements and interactions.  
- Shooting by Sirhan Sirhan in the kitchen/pantry area; eight shots fired, wounding Kennedy and others.  
- Capture of Sirhan Sirhan by hotel staff and witnesses before police arrival at Rampart Station.  
- Emergency medical treatment for Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel, including resuscitation efforts and transfer to Central Receiving Hospital.  
- Transfer of Kennedy to Good Samaritan Hospital for surgery to address gunshot wounds.  
- Autopsy conducted on June 6, 1968, confirming fatal injuries from three distinct gunshot wounds.  
- Medical treatment for Paul Schrade, William Weisel, and Elizabeth Evans at various hospitals following the shooting.  

Key Organizations  
- Los Angeles Police Department (secured Sirhan Sirhan)  
- Los Angeles Fire Department (fire inspections during election night)  
- Kennedy campaign staff (press coordination, security)  
- Hotel management (security, crowd control)  
- News media (television, radio, print journalists)  
- Scientific Investigation Division (forensic analysis of shooting)  
- Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office (led by Dr. Thomas T. Noguchi)  
- Central Receiving Hospital medical staff  
- Good Samaritan Hospital surgical team  
- Kaiser Hospital and Huntington Memorial Hospital (treatment for injured victims)

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_bulky_1208_sec_001_ser1208only-part_11_of_17.pdf

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