</s>LA 56-156 JOS/rem INVESTIGATION CONCERNING ALLEGATION THAT SIRIAN BISHARA SIRHAN WAS AT DAVE'S SACOFFEE SHOP, ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA, ON JUNE 4, 1968 -187 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into Sirhan Bishara Sirhan’s alleged activities in California around the time of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968. Key inquiries focused on his potential presence at Dave's Coffee Shop in Alhambra on June 4, purchases of film and ammunition at Lucky Discount Store in Pasadena, and visits to Lock, Stock & Barrel Gun Shop in San Gabriel. Witnesses such as David Phillips (coffee shop owner), Lehora Hostetter (waitress), Larry Arnold (gun shop employee), and Donna Herrick (shop owner) provided accounts of Sirhan’s alleged activities, though no confirmed identifications were made. Polygraph examinations were conducted on Arnold and Herrick to verify their statements. A photograph of RFK with an individual resembling Sirhan was also examined as part of the investigation. Separate FBI efforts in 1968–1969 included interviews with Steve Schapiro (photographer) and Ondine Vaughn (campaign photographer), who described photographs of RFK with unidentified individuals. Joseph Willard "Pappy" Luke, owner of Pappy's Stew House in Raywood, Texas, reported encountering a man on May 23, 1968, claiming intent to kill a senator in California. This individual was later linked to Sirhan through photographic comparisons. The FBI noted no recommendations or conclusions in the documents and emphasized that findings were based solely on available evidence.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan**: Alleged assassin of RFK; central figure in multiple investigations.  
- **David Phillips**: Owner of Dave's Coffee Shop in Alhambra, reported seeing Sirhan with another individual.  
- **Lehora Hostetter**: Waitress at Dave's Coffee Shop, noted facial similarities between Sirhan and individuals present.  
- **Larry Arnold**: Employee at Lock, Stock & Barrel Gun Shop; claimed to have sold ammunition to Sirhan on June 1, 1968.  
- **Donna Herrick**: Owner of Lock, Stock & Barrel Gun Shop; reported seeing Sirhan attempting to purchase ammunition in April 1968.  
- **Robert F. Kennedy (RFK)**: Assassinated on June 5, 1968; central figure in the investigation.  
- **Steve Schapiro**: Freelance photographer who reported taking photographs of RFK at San Francisco International Airport.  
- **Ondine Vaughn**: Photographer for RFK's campaign; described a photograph of RFK with an unidentified individual.  
- **Joseph Willard "Pappy" Luke**: Owner of Pappy's Stew House in Raywood, Texas, who encountered the suspect on May 23, 1968.  

Key Locations  
- **Dave's Coffee Shop**, Alhambra, California: Alleged location of Sirhan’s presence on June 4, 1968.  
- **Lucky Discount Store**, Pasadena, California: Film and photography department where Sirhan allegedly purchased supplies.  
- **Lock, Stock & Barrel Gun Shop**, San Gabriel, California: Alleged site of ammunition purchases by Sirhan.  
- **San Francisco International Airport**: Site of Schapiro’s alleged photograph of RFK (date noted as March 1989).  
- **Raywood, Texas**: Location of Pappy's Stew House where Luke encountered the suspect.  

Key Events  
- Investigation into Sirhan’s presence at Dave's Coffee Shop on June 4, 1968.  
- Examination of film and ammunition transactions at Lucky Discount Store and Lock, Stock & Barrel Gun Shop.  
- Polygraph examinations of Larry Arnold and Donna Herrick to verify their accounts of Sirhan’s activities.  
- Review of a photograph of RFK with an individual resembling Sirhan to assess his presence during the campaign tour.  
- **May 23, 1968**: A man approached Luke at Pappy's Stew House in Raywood, Texas, claiming intent to kill a senator in California.  
- **June–August 1968**: FBI interviews with Schapiro, Vaughn, and residents of Raywood, Texas, to identify the suspect through photographic comparisons.  
- **Photographic Identification**: Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was linked to the suspect via photographs shown to Luke and local residents.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted multiple investigations into Sirhan’s alleged activities and potential threats against RFK.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department**: Involved in polygraph examinations and administrative correspondence.  
- **Black Star Distributing Company**: Mentioned as a distribution channel for photographs taken by Steve Schapiro.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_032_ser_983_only-part_5_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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