</s>11.1 1 because I just wanted to do something, and at that time I 1 saw then hassling with him. I came around this table and 2 got on the table on my knees and tried to hit this guy. 3 4 At this point they were struggling with him for the gun, and 5 the gun was pointed at me, so then I heard -- I don't remember 6 how, but it was a reaction, I got down off the table. Then- 7 when I got dom off the table, I Got down and I walked back around here, and that's at that that point I heard something 9 9 of "Get the gun. Rosie, or "Give me the gun." And that's 10 when I Got the gun," Rosie. Or "Give the gun ... "Give it to 11 Rafer." I did not see Rosie hand the gun to Rafer, but I 12 don't recall Rafer being there other than the point of 13 giving the gun .. 14 When you were trying to hit the suspect, do you 15 recall anyone saying to you -- 16 A ... Richard Aubry said something. 17 Q Richard? 17 A A-A-u-b-r-y-y. 19 Do you recall Rosie saying anything to you at that 20 point such as, "Don't do that, baby," or anything like that? 21 A Rosie said something, but "I don't think he said 22 it to me. Now I think about it, he was just talking and 23 crying. All right, fine. Now, when you saw the senator, 25 Q 25 did he make any statement that you could hear? 26 A I didn't hear him make a statement. No. Form (618 (R-3-4) 3/3 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail witness accounts and investigative records related to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) during a campaign speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. Booker Griffin reported observing Sirhan Sirhan and an unidentified woman at the hotel prior to the event, describing Sirhan as Mexican-American, short, and shabbily dressed. Richard Grijalva and his sister Roberta corroborated observations of Sirhan at a San Gabriel Valley Gun Club on June 4, noting his foreign-born appearance, dark clothing, and rapid-fire shooting. Witnesses such as Pete Hamill, Rosie Grier, George Plimpton, Rafer Johnson, Stanley Kawalec, Joseph A. LaHive, and Thaddeus Heath provided conflicting yet overlapping descriptions of the shooting, including five rapid shots from behind RFK’s right side, a struggle over a gun in the kitchen area, and the presence of Paul Schrade on the floor. Post-shooting accounts describe efforts to subdue Sirhan, police securing the scene, and confusion about the nature of the gunfire (initially mistaken for fireworks or balloons). FBI interviews and administrative records reference security credentials, hotel layouts, and suspect descriptions, with some documents noting redactions for sensitive information.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Sirhan** (suspect identified by Griffin, Grijalva, Rosie Grier, and others)  
- **Booker Griffin** (witness at Ambassador Hotel on June 4)  
- **Richard Grijalva** (gun club observer; corroborated by Roberta Grijalva)  
- **Rosie Grier** (alleged to have subdued Sirhan during the shooting)  
- **George Plimpton** (reporter who rushed to disarm Sirhan)  
- **Pete Hamill** (writer who observed the shooting from behind RFK)  
- **Rafer Johnson** (witness near kitchen door, noted Kennedy’s fall and Schrade’s presence)  
- **Paul Schrade** (identified by multiple witnesses as lying on the floor post-shooting)  
- **Stanley Kawalec** (security guard in the kitchen area during the event)  
- **Joseph A. LaHive** (witness behind stage, noted a woman with blood on her forehead and Schrade’s position)  
- **Thaddeus Heath** (Kennedy campaign worker present in the kitchen area)  
- **Judy Royer** (Kennedy campaign worker observed interactions in the pantry area)  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles** (site of RFK’s speech and assassination; includes Embassy Room, Colonial Room, kitchen, pantry, and stage area)  
- **San Gabriel Valley Gun Club** (location where Sirhan was observed firing weapons on June 4)  
- **Kitchen area** (central site of the shooting and struggle over a gun)  
- **Colonial Room** (where witnesses reported seeing the shooting and police removed the suspect)  
- **Embassy Room** (where RFK delivered his speech)  

Key Events  
- **June 4, 1968**: Griffin and Grijalva observed Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel and San Gabriel Valley Gun Club prior to RFK’s speech.  
- **June 5, 1968**: RFK assassination during his speech; witnesses described five rapid shots from behind his right side, a struggle over a gun in the kitchen area, and Paul Schrade lying on the floor.  
- **Post-shooting activities**: Efforts to subdue Sirhan, police securing the scene, and confusion about the nature of gunfire (initially mistaken for fireworks or balloons).  
- **Witness accounts**: Conflicting but overlapping descriptions of the shooting, including Rosie Grier’s confrontation with Sirhan, George Plimpton’s attempt to disarm him, and Rafer Johnson’s observation of Kennedy falling.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI/PBI)** – Conducted interviews, documented witness statements, and investigated suspect activities.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)** – Involved in documenting the scene and securing the suspect post-assassination.  
- **Kennedy campaign staff** – Including Thaddeus Heath, Judy Royer, and others present at the hotel during the event.  
- **Hotel management and security personnel** – Described in witness accounts regarding layout, credentials, and response to the shooting.  
- **San Gabriel Valley Gun Club** – Mentioned in administrative records related to Sirhan’s firearm activities.  
- **Form 618 (R-3-4)** – Document type referenced in administrative details.  
- **Executive Order 14176** – Declassification release designation noted in some documents.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_ebf_1090_sec_001_ser_1090_only_pt3-part_4_of_7.pdf

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