</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date 6/8/68 WILLIE (no middle initial) FRANKLIN, Maintenance Man: Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California, advised that he resides at the Hotel Ohio, 11042 West Seventh Street, Los Angels, California. FRANKLIN advised that he was on duty at the Ambassador Hotel on the morning of June 5, 1968. At approximately 12:20 a.m. that date, he was at the guard post at the entrance of a.M. that day, he looked at the guarant post large number of employees found around Franklin Manor. He heard some of these people say, "A man is shot" He heard some say, 'KENNEDY'S shot" - FRANKIN advised that this was the first he knew of the shooting of Senator Kennedy, and was the following concerning the actual shooting, and to his knowledge, he had not seen the individual who allegedly shot Senator. KENNÉDY. CONcerning himself: FRANKIN FURNISHED the following descriptive data Sex Male Race Birth Data Negro Birth Data October 1, 1912, Houma, Louisiana Height Height 516" Height 316" Height Pounds Black Eyes Brown Complexion Dark brown Build Build Slight Mall oficial Status Social Security Single Number 6/9/68 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles 56-156 on at File # SA JOHN H. BORGMAN/R/12 Date dictated 6/ 8/68 by This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the PBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed by your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail witness accounts and investigative findings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. Multiple witnesses described events surrounding the shooting, including gunshots fired near the pantry area, Kennedy collapsing after being struck, and chaotic scenes in the kitchen and corridor areas. Thomas Perez, a security guard, reported assisting Mrs. Elizabeth Evans into the Embassy Room and later observed an individual being held down post-shooting but did not see the weapon or shooter. Bernard M. Connors and John H. Borgman, FBI agents, were involved in documenting witness statements. Uno Timansoon, a hotel vice president, described escorting Kennedy through service elevators to avoid crowds and witnessing gunshots near the pantry area. Angelo Di Pierro, a maitre d’, noted two shots fired as Kennedy passed him in the hallway, leading to chaos, and later identified an individual in media reports. Dr. Ross-Matthew Mitzer, a surgeon, provided medical details of Kennedy’s injuries and treatment. Peter Berkson, a photographer, captured images of casualties but did not observe the shooter. Ralph Elmore, a television engineer, reported rapid gunfire and injuries in the kitchen area. A separate witness described witnessing Kennedy near an ice machine, noting a man on the floor with a small barrel gun pointed at him, though the weapon was lost from view. The witness also mentioned crowd control efforts involving a large Black man swinging his arms and later transported Paul Schrade and WISELI via freight elevator to an ambulance. Sirhan Bishara Sirhian was not seen by this witness but was identified in newspaper photographs. Jodie Sams, a steward’s assistant, encountered an individual in the hotel basement on June 6, 1968, who she later recognized in media images.  

Key People  
- **Thomas Perez**: Security guard at the Ambassador Hotel; assisted Mrs. Evans into the Embassy Room and observed post-shooting chaos.  
- **Bernard M. Connors**: FBI Special Agent, Los Angeles; involved in investigation.  
- **John H. Borgman**: FBI Special Agent, Los Angeles; part of investigative team.  
- **Uno Timansoon**: Hotel vice president; escorted Kennedy through service elevators and witnessed shooting aftermath.  
- **Angelo Di Pierro**: Maitre d’ at the Ambassador Hotel; provided detailed account of events during and after the shooting.  
- **Ross-Matthew Mitzer**: Surgeon and local official; assisted in medical response to Kennedy’s injuries.  
- **Peter Berkson**: Photographer; captured images of casualties but did not observe the shooter.  
- **Ralph Elmore**: Television engineer; reported gunfire and injuries in the kitchen area.  
- **Paul Schrade**: Individual transported via freight elevator by witness.  
- **WISELI**: Possibly a person’s name, context unclear.  
- **Jodie Sams**: Steward’s assistant at the Ambassador Hotel; encountered an individual in the basement on June 6, 1968.  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhian**: Alleged suspect identified in newspaper photographs by witnesses.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of the assassination; multiple rooms (Embassy Room, Ambassador Room, Press Room) used for Kennedy’s speeches and events.  
- **Pantry Area**: Where Kennedy was shot, described as a crowded space with security measures in place.  
- **Kitchen Level**: Access point for service elevators and areas where witnesses observed the shooting and casualties.  
- **Ice Machine Area**: Specific location within the hotel where one witness reported witnessing the shooting.  
- **Basement Corridor (Adjacent to Conveyor)**: Location where Jodie Sams encountered an individual on June 6, 1968.  

Key Events  
- **Kennedy’s Movement Through Hotel**: Escorted via service elevator to avoid crowds, bypassing the Embassy Room to reach the Press Room.  
- **Shooting Incident**: Multiple gunshots fired near the pantry area; Kennedy collapsed on the floor, with witnesses reporting rapid-fire shots.  
- **Casualties and Medical Response**: Injuries reported among attendees, including a man struck in the abdomen and another with a head wound. Dr. Mitzer provided medical details of Kennedy’s condition.  
- **Witness Accounts**: Conflicting descriptions of the shooter, including a woman fleeing the scene, an individual identified later in media reports, and a man with a small barrel gun pointed at Kennedy.  
- **Crowd Control Efforts**: Witnesses described attempts to manage the crowd, including a large Black man swinging his arms.  
- **Media Coverage**: NBC News personnel filmed events but did not observe the shooting directly.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigation; agents Connors and Borgman were involved.  
- **Ambassador Hotel Staff**: Including security guards, maitre d’s, engineers, and stewards, provided critical eyewitness accounts.  
- **NBC News**: Provided media coverage of the event, with personnel detailing their observations.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_007_ser_400_only-part_4_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search