</s>with numerous people and he autographed a postor for an admirer. Kennedy entered the Embassy Ballroom through an honor guard of Kennedy Girls, and onto the stage. The time was 12:02 a.m. The stage area was packed as Kennedy delivered a victory message. to an audience of about 1500 persons in the crowded auditorium. Lights from the news cameras heated the already hot room. As Kennedy finished his speech one of his aids said, "This way Senator," and a small group, including Kennedy, walked to the rear of the stage and through the door to an anteroom. The decision to go through and anterom and serving pantry area was made moments before by Fred Dutton and William Barry. Both men attempted to catch up with Kennedy as he moved quickly toward the Colonial Room where the "writing press" was awaiting his arrival. Mrs. Kennedy remarked to Barry as they walked away from the stage, "stay with the Senator." A large crowd of people surged around Kennedy as He made his way toward the pantry Area. Several persons noted that Kennedy was walking "quite fast." Kennedy stopped for a brief moment to shake hands with the kitchen help. Karl Uecker, a hotel waiter captain, was with Kennedy he walked from the stage to the panty and took his arm to assist him toward the Colonial Room. Vincent Di Pierro, a college student and son of the hotel maitre d'', was walking to the right of Kennedy and about five feet behind him. He observed a man standing on a tray rack at the east end of the ice machine. He recalled that the man had an unusual smile on his face and appeared to be bending over -8- 2027 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, during a speech following his victory in the California primary. The shooting occurred as he exited the stage area through an anteroom and pantry toward the Colonial Room. Witnesses described the assailant as a man with an unusual smile, holding his right hand against his stomach, positioned near an ice machine. Kennedy was struck by four bullets fired at close range; two entered under his right arm, one hit Paul Schrade (a union official) in the head, and another struck him in the head behind the right ear. The suspect, later identified as Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, fired eight shots during a struggle with officers and civilians before being subdued. Kennedy was transported to Central Receiving Hospital, then transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital for emergency surgery. He died at 11:44 p.m. on June 5, 1968, after complications from his injuries. Five others were wounded, including Schrade, William Weisel, Elizabeth Evans, Ira Marc Goldstein, and Irwin Stroll. The suspect was arrested at the scene but released on bail before being indicted for murder. Following the assassination, security operations coordinated across multiple locations, including Good Samaritan Hospital and Rampart Station. Rafer Johnson, who possessed the assassination weapon, was escorted to Rampart Station after checking on Kennedy’s condition at Good Samaritan Hospital. Security measures included sealing off hospital wards, restricting access to medical personnel, and monitoring crowds during Kennedy’s transfer to Los Angeles International Airport for his body’s final destination in New York City. Investigations traced the assassination weapon to Albert L. Hertz, who had sold it through intermediaries to Munir Sirhan, Sirhan’s brother, prior to the attack. Evidence recovered from Sirhan’s home and vehicles included notebooks with writings about RFK, gun cleaning equipment, spent .22 caliber projectiles, and latent fingerprints matching Sirhan. A Pasadena Police officer found additional evidence in a trash box outside Sirhan’s residence, including a torn gun label, an envelope declaring “Kennedy must be killed,” and Arabic-language notebooks. Sirhan’s vehicle, a 1958 Chrysler, was located near the Ambassador Hotel and confirmed as his via a key found at Rampart Station. A search warrant led to the discovery of further evidence in a separately impounded 1956 De Soto linked to Sirhan through DMV records.  

Key People  
- **Robert F. Kennedy**: Senator assassinated during a speech at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan**: Suspect arrested at the scene; later indicted for murder.  
- **Karl Uecker**: Hotel waiter captain who assisted Kennedy to the Colonial Room and subdued the suspect.  
- **Vincent Di Pierro**: College student who observed the suspect near an ice machine.  
- **William Barry**: Kennedy’s bodyguard who retrieved the gun from the suspect.  
- **Paul Schrade**: United Automobile Workers Union official wounded by a bullet that passed through Kennedy’s coat.  
- **Irwin Stroll**: Kennedy worker shot in the leg, initially mistaking his injury for a kick.  
- **Elizabeth Evans**: Businessman struck by a ricocheting bullet from the pantry ceiling.  
- **William Weisel**: ABC News director wounded in the side by a bullet.  
- **Ira Marc Goldstein**: Reporter struck in the thigh by a bullet.  
- **Munir Sirhan**: Sirhan’s older brother, identified as the recipient of the assassination weapon.  
- **Adel Sirhan**: Sirhan’s eldest brother, described as stable and working at a restaurant.  
- **Sharif Sirhan**: Sirhan’s brother with arrest records for attempted murder and probation violations.  
- **Saidallah Sirhan**: Sirhan’s brother with drunk driving incidents.  
- **Albert L. Hertz**: Registered owner of the assassination weapon, sold through intermediaries to Munir Sirhan.  
- **Dr. Thomas T. Noguchi**: Conducted autopsy confirming cause of death as a penetrating gunshot wound to the right mastoid area.  
- **Deputy Chief J. G. Fisk**: Emissary to Kennedy family during security coordination.  
- **Lieutenant R. Moulton**: Led security at Central Receiving Hospital.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel (Embassy Ballroom)**: Site of Kennedy’s speech and the shooting.  
- **Central Receiving Hospital**: Initial treatment for Kennedy and other victims.  
- **Good Samaritan Hospital**: Where Kennedy underwent emergency surgery and died; site of autopsy conducted by Dr. Noguchi.  
- **Los Angeles International Airport**: Final destination for Kennedy’s body after hospitalization.  
- **Rampart Station**: Interrogation and detention location for the suspect, Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **Pasadena, California**: Sirhan’s residence; site of evidence recovery including notebooks, gun parts, and trash box findings.  
- **Viertel's Automotive Services**: Impoundment site for the 1956 De Soto linked to Sirhan.  

Key Events  
- **Shooting**: Occurred at 12:02 a.m. as Kennedy exited the stage, with the suspect firing four shots from close range.  
- **Struggle with Suspect**: The assailant was subdued by officers and civilians before being arrested.  
- **Medical Treatment**: Kennedy received emergency care at Central Receiving Hospital, then transferred to Good Samaritan for surgery; died of gunshot wounds to the head and neck.  
- **Security Operations**: Coordinated across hospitals, airports, and police stations following the assassination.  
- **Arrest and Identification**: Sirhan Sirhan was arrested at the hotel, later booked under the name “John Doe.”  
- **Investigation into Weapon Origin**: Traced the assassination weapon to Albert L. Hertz, who sold it through intermediaries to Munir Sirhan.  
- **Evidence Recovery**: Items found in Sirhan’s home and vehicles included notebooks with writings about RFK, gun cleaning equipment, spent projectiles, and latent fingerprints matching Sirhan.  
- **Autopsy**: Conducted by Dr. Thomas T. Noguchi, confirming cause of death as a penetrating gunshot wound to the right mastoid area.  
- **Crowd Control**: Implemented at hospitals and during Kennedy’s body transfer to Los Angeles International Airport.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Coordinated security at the hotel, hospital, and airport; arrested the suspect.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Analyzed evidence recovered from Sirhan’s home and vehicles.  
- **Medical Staff**: Including Dr. Stanley Abo, Dr. Marvin Esher, and Dr. Henry Cueno, who treated Kennedy and other victims.  
- **Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office**: Handwriting analysis conducted on notebooks attributed to Sirhan.  
- **California Horse Racing Board**: Issued “Hot Walkers” license to Sirhan in 1966.  
- **Pasadena Police Department**: Conducted searches, secured warrants, and documented police interactions with Sirhan’s family.

RFK Declassified Files

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