</s>TA 56-156 the Coca Cola machine, otherwise she would have requested the bartender to ask the above male individual to move away from her. CHRISTIANSON recalled that this male individual was approximately the same height as herself, namely 515'1 and that his overall appearance was unkempt and out of place at the hotel. She could not recall, and here was one that the hotel, she could not look, and that was not wearing a sport or suit type coat, that his shirt was open at the collar. CHRISTIANSON indicated that she had seen photographs of SIRIAN BISHARA SIRIHAN displayed by the news media and she believes the individual she observed at the hotel very closely resembles these photographs described the above individual. as follows: CHRISTINSON further described theabove individual. Race Race White Sex Male Sex Complexion Dark Age Middle to late 20s Height Height 140 pounds Build Slender Hair Black, medium length Black, and wavy Eyes Voice Medium tone and nervous On June 11, 1963, CHRISTIANSON was shown glossy photographs of SIRIRIAN, including a Los Angeles Police. Department mug photograph taken June 5, 1963. and a left profile view of SIRTIAN taken sometime after the shooting of KENNEDY on June 5. 1963. After viewing these photographs, CHRISTIASON again advised that the individual should be observed at the Ambassador Hotel, that the 1960, very closely ressembles the photographs on SIRIAH. - 358 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

JOHNSON returned to the fifth floor at 11:40-11:45 PM and asked BILL BARRY when Senator Kennedy would go downstairs. Since BARRY did not know the time of departure, JOHNSON joined the other guests in the KENNEDY suite.

The group included Senator Kennedy, ETHEL KENNEDY, JESSE UNRUTH, "TUCK" (complete name unknown) ROOSEVELT GRIER, Mr. (FANU) WILSON of CBS, STAW) (LIV) to look Magazine and other newsmen, late men and writers whose identity are unknown.

Senator Kennedy left his suite in the company of BARNY and JOHNSTON. The group walked down the hallway to the right from the Senator's room and turned in the first corridor to the right. They waited for an elevator, however, when it arrived it was occupied by other passengers, Senator Kennedy realized that there was not sufficient space to accommodate his party.

JOHNSON recalls seeing Senator KENNEDY, ETHEL KENNEDY, JESSE UNRUH, BILL BARRY and ROOSEVELT GRIER in the elevator. He does not know who instructed the elevator operator to take them to a specific floor.

When the elevator stopped and the doors opened JOHNNY observed that they were in the kitchen or serving area of the hotel and he presumed that it was the same floor where Senator KENNETY was to make his speech.

JOHNSON does not remember who was off the elevator first, but it may have been the men from Life and Look Magazines. BARRY was it may send them to the office and the office of the President. behind the senator who sent them to his office. behind him.

After leaving the elevator with Mrs. KENNEOY was when a man dressed in a white uniform presumably a kitchen worker, reached across the table to shake hands to John F. Kennedy stopped worker, reached across the tables to shake his hand.

The Senator then moved approximately 15 feet ahead and shook hands with a white female who was dressed in an a ahead and shock hands with the female who may dress in a greeted another male kitchen worker.

JOHNSON is unable to recognize any of the men who shook hands. but said he could recognize the woman employee. When Senator KNNEDY finished shaking hands with this kitchen employees, BARRY led him to the Embassy Room.

The hallway or corridor employees, the group was walking through was very crowded with telephone which the group of walking through the very crowded The Senator was walking ahead of the group with BARRY. JOHNSON and Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE PLIMPTON became separated from the Senator because some member of a CBS camera crew was pulling a cable in the corridor and blocked their passage for a few moments.

JOHNSON observed Senator Kennedy enter the Embassy Room through a door way which Senator Kennedy gathered people. He then proceeded to a curtain stage. JOHNSION recalls that the stage was surrounded by the curtain stage, and if the stage were viewed from the center of the ballroom, Senator Kennedy would have entered the right side of the stage.

During this time BARRY and JOHNSON were standing together and he questioned BARRY how the speech. BARRY indicated that the exit would be made the same way as they previously entered the stage, Shortly before the end of KENNEDY's speech, BARRY moved towards the Senator.

side of the Stage left by which he had previously entered. KENNEDYS paused a moment and then turned to the opposite direction (left side of stage) JOHNSON could not see whether the Senator continued that the travel left slightly towards the rear.

JOHNSON realized that the Senator was leaving the stage by a different way and attempted to reach him but because of the crowd would not move forward. JOHNSTON, but the company of the corridor and who joined Senator Kennedy was walked past.

is unaware as to why KENNEOY left the stage in a different BARRY and Senator Kennedy walked past Johnson, he noticed that Senator. Between Senator Kennedy and Johnson, who were approximately five feet apart, there was a camera man and a sound many spectator KENNEOKY through a darkened area and at a point, three or four feet from an opened double doorway with a divider in the center.

A second heard a sound which reminded him of a bursting balloon, in a second to two later, where he assumed the Senator should have been, he saw smoke and fragments of paper in the air. The area in Front of JOHNSONS was brightly, lit possibly by camera lights.

After hearing the second noise, JOHNNSON immediately assumed that these noises were gunshots." JOHNSON immediately moved forward pushing - 378 - people aside. Due to the great number of people in the area forward movement was seriously impaired.

As he passed through was open double doors saw BARRY hit and push a white male who was standing on the floor in front of him (JOHNSON) but slightly to the right. JOHNSONS continued to push forward and observed. On the left side of the floor, there was a man lying on the ground and also thought that he slightly.

To the right, JOHNNON continued to pull forward the doorway. to the wounded man lying in the floor and to the left of him. saw a bullet hole in the top of his head. JONNSON then observed Senator Kennedy lying on on the top in his head, The Senator was lying on his back in an almost position.

The looked as lying on him back in the same area. The head through an arch and down to his side. Hate position was on the floor was high straight moved from a down position beside his the floor. He was shot down from a position where he was head through the arch and left side.

JOHNSON saw blood on the floor beneath the right side of Senator Kennedy's head. He also saw another and right side check and down the right slide of ear also saw Senator Kennedy. The right side look at the head of he nest.

Senator Kennedy looked at Johnson and they stared at each other for a moment. JOHNSON WAS then deciding whether to assist the Senator or proceed towards BARRY who was attempting to subdue the white male who JOHNSON assumed that he was firing the gun.

He approached this individual and observed that he has still holding a gun. in his hand. JHNSON has been fired from the gun and he approached in this hand. Johnson does not recall himself individuals were trying to seize the weapon and that he is at this time the assistant was pushed back again.

JOKNSON lunged at the man and grasped the front part of the gun with his left hand and the assistant were GRIER had the butt and trigger housing. GRIER twisted the gun from this individual's hands and at the same time JOHNOON tightly held this person's body.

JOHNSON then turned towards Senator KENNEDY and saw that BARRY was now at his side." - 379 -

William V. Manniss, a staff member for Senator Robert F. Kennedy, advised that he was at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4, 1968, to take care of luggage and office equipment for the Senator's party. He had heard nothing about a press conference or change in plans for Senator Kennedy.

Patricia Elizabeth Nelson, a high school student, reported seeing a man carrying a package from which protruded what she thought could have been a gun stock running from the Embassy Room on June 4, 1968, at approximately 12:10 a.m. She later viewed a video tape of the ABC news cast with Frank Reynolds and identified the man as the same person she had seen.

Laurie Gail Porter, a high school student, advised that she was present in the Embassy Room of the Ambassador Hotel during Senator Kennedy's speech on June 4, 1968. She observed Robin Cassen run from the area near the kitchen where Senator Kennedy was shot, and reported seeing blood on Robin's forehead.

Gene M. Ramos and his wife arrived at the Ambassador Hotel at approximately 11:20 PM on June 4, 1968, and watched Senator Kennedy's victory speech on television. They left the bar and walked into the lobby near the Embassy Room, where they saw a large crowd of people leaving the room and heard someone shout that Senator Kennedy had been shot.

Dr. Fred D. Parrott, M.D., advised that he was at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4, 1968, to listen to Senator Kennedy's speech. He heard a great deal of shouting and screaming from inside the Embassy Room and attempted to enter but was refused by the guard.

Shirley Ann Porter, a high school student, reported seeing an individual wearing white shirt and trousers and dark shoes walk down the stairs and return at the left rear of the Embassy Room on June 4, 1968. She observed this person again walking down the stairs and returning, but could not identify him as Sirhan Sirhan.

Gene M. Ramos furnished the names of individuals who were known to him to have been observed at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4, 1968, including Dr. Fred D. Parrott, M.D., Sam Strain, Iris Miller, Frank Williams, and Leon Raph.

Mrs. Margaret McCarthy advised that she was in the Ambassador Ballroom with her family when Senator Kennedy was shot. She stated that they were waiting for Senator Kennedy to come down from the Embassy Room to make a speech.

Miss Geradine Agnes McCarthy advised that she was also in the Ambassador Ballroom on June 4, 1968, and heard several individuals come down the stairs exclaiming that Senator Kennedy had been shot.

RFK Declassified Files

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