</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date 6/8/68 1 SIHRIAN BISHARA SIRHARA SIRTIAN was arranged in Department 100 of Los Angeles County Superior Court, before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Arthur L. ALARCON, IN proceedings which commenced 5:18 p.m. June 7, 1968. The proceedings were held in the 5:48 p.M. June 8, 1968, The proceedings went 441 Baucher Street, Los Angeles, California. Judge ALARON Hall, announced that the reasons for holding the proceedings in that facility were two-fold: 1. Because of the defendant's physical condition. 2. To insure appropriate security. The indictment against STIRIAN was read by Deputy District Attorney JOHN J. HAWARD, Los Angels County District Attorney's Office. SIRIAN WAS represented by WILBUR L. LITTLEFIELD. SIRTIAAN was represented by WILLBUR L .. Public Defender's Office, Also present in court at the specific request of Judge SARIAN, was A. L. WIRIN, a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union, a conferred with SIRIHAN prior to arraignment at the request of SHIRIAN. Defender LITTLEFIED requested the judge to order an examination of STIRIAN by two psychiatric examinists, which was approved by the conviction of this psychiatric examination, which has been approved of the defense. This psychiatric examination was for the benefit doctors not divulge the results of their findings to anyone other than the defense, At the request at the defense counsel, Judge ALARCOF fixed date of June 28, 1969, at 9:00 a.m ., for plea and further proceedings. The defendant was observed being brought into the Chapel Facility in a wheel chair. It was also observed that the defendant left the Chapel Facility In a wheel chair." - 350 - 6/7/68 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles 56-156 On S.A.S.J. R. J. LA JEUNESSEESNE, JR ., and 6/77/68 J. G. WHITTINGTON, JR.RJ/RL/Jd/jdm/af File # by Date dictated This document contains neither recommendations nonconclusions nor norconclusions on the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is learned to your agency; it is its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains witness accounts of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. Karl Uecker, a maître d', described leading Kennedy through the hotel after his speech and witnessing two shots fired by an unknown assailant. He identified the shooter as Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, whom he had never seen before. Edward Minasian, a catering employee, recounted subduing the gunman in the pantry area and noting the suspect’s actions, including firing multiple shots. Boris Yaro, a photographer, provided details about his vantage point in the kitchen corridor, observing the shooting sequence and identifying the suspect as a tall man in a powder blue sport coat. Vincent Di Pierro, a waiter, described the shooter’s position near the heating cabinet and confirmed the suspect’s identity as the same individual seen earlier on a tray holder. Juan Antonio Romero, a busboy, detailed his presence in the Embassy Room during the event but did not directly witness the shooting. Statements were collected by FBI agents and include redactions for sensitive information such as social security numbers.  

A separate court order restricted publicity during the trial of SIRHARA BISHARA SIRTIAN (later identified as Sirhan Sirhan), issued on June 7, 1968, to prevent prejudicial media coverage. The arraignment of SIRHARA BISHARA SIRTIAN was held in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 7–8, 1968, with security measures due to the defendant’s physical condition. A psychiatric evaluation was requested and approved, though results remained confidential. Arraignment was rescheduled for June 28, 1969.  

Additional witness accounts include Juan Romero describing shaking hands with Kennedy before witnessing a man approach him from the left, fire a shot, and collapse Kennedy after the shooting. Martin Patrusky, a waiter, observed a man on a tray in the serving area who later approached Kennedy, firing shots and was identified as Sirhan Sirhan. Stanley Kawalec, a security officer, reported hearing four distinct .22 caliber gunshots and describing the chaos following the shooting. David Esquith, a campaign volunteer, noted the presence of other workers in the Embassy Room area and described a man named "David" with specific physical traits potentially linked to the suspect.  

Key People  
- **Karl Uecker**: Maître d' who witnessed the shooting and identified Sirhan Bishara Sirhan as the shooter.  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan**: Identified by multiple witnesses as the assailant, later arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court.  
- **Edward Minasian**: Catering employee who subdued the gunman in the pantry area.  
- **Boris Yaro**: Photographer who observed the shooting from the kitchen corridor and identified the suspect’s appearance.  
- **Vincent Di Pierro**: Waiter who described the shooter’s position near the heating cabinet and confirmed his identity.  
- **Juan Antonio Romero**: Busboy present in the Embassy Room during the event but did not directly witness the shooting.  
- **Martin Patrusky**: Waiter who observed a man on a tray in the serving area and later identified Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **Stanley Kawalec**: Security officer at the Ambassador Hotel who reported hearing four .22 caliber gunshots during the incident.  
- **David Esquith**: Campaign volunteer present at the Embassy Room, described a man named "David" with physical traits potentially linked to the suspect.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s speech and the shooting incident.  
- **Embassy Room**: Where Kennedy delivered his speech and was shot.  
- **Kitchen corridor and pantry area**: Location of the shooting and where witnesses observed movements and interactions.  
- **Press room**: Where some witnesses were stationed during the event.  

Key Events  
- **Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968**: Concluded with him exiting through a hallway near the kitchen area.  
- **Assassination incident**: Four shots fired from a .22 caliber gun, resulting in Kennedy collapsing.  
- **Witnesses’ actions**: Assisting Kennedy, restraining the shooter, and securing his body.  
- **Identification of the suspect**: Multiple witnesses described the shooter as Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, with physical details including olive skin, black curly hair, and a blue jacket.  
- **Arraignment of SIRHARA BISHARA SIRTIAN**: Held in Los Angeles County Superior Court on June 7–8, 1968, with security measures due to the defendant’s condition.  
- **Court order restricting publicity**: Issued on June 7, 1968, to prevent prejudicial media coverage during the trial.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and documented witness statements as part of the investigation.  
- **Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office**: Involved in SIRHARA BISHARA SIRTIAN’s prosecution.  
- **Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County**: Oversaw arraignment and publicity restrictions.  
- **Ambassador Hotel Security**: Included personnel like Stanley Kawalec who managed crowd control during the incident.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_007_ser_400_only-part_3_of_4.pdf

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