</s>PILE # I-1337 (X) INTERVIEWS PERSON INTERVIEWED: HAMILL, Pete DATE/TIME SEX RACE HAIR EYES HT WT DOB RESIDENCE ADDRESS 478 68th St ., Brooklyn N. Y. PHONE (212) 833-2930 BUSINESS ADDRESSS PHONE INFORMATION: (WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY & HOW) Near R.F.K. when he was shot. Not interviewed by LAPD. Following is a synopsis of the FBI Interview of 8-5-68. Witness was on stage with Senator during the speech. After the speech, Witness was preceding the Senator through the pantry with George Plimpton He looked back and observed the Senator shake with some people and then start to walk away. At that time Witness heard 5 shots in rapid succession. He saw Sliman standing about and he was firing a front of the Senator. He took the tremendous concentration on his face. Witness gun. When he took the floor and someone catching him. Witness recalled George Plimpton rushing to the suspect & going for the gun. Rosie Grier "slammed" Sirhan into a table, according to Witness. kw/10-7-68 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail accounts of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Multiple witnesses provided conflicting yet overlapping descriptions of the events, including the sequence of gunshots, the suspect’s actions, and post-shooting responses. Sirhan Sirhan was identified as the shooter by several accounts, with witnesses describing him as a male with dark curly hair wearing blue jeans and a jacket. The shooting occurred in the kitchen area or adjacent corridors after Kennedy exited an Embassy Room speech. Witnesses such as Pete Hamill, Rafer Johnson, Frank Mankiewicz, and Dr. Ross-Matthew Mittelheuser reported hearing multiple gunshots (ranging from four to five), with some noting rapid fire. The suspect was subdued by Rosie Grier, Bill Barry, and others before being taken into custody. Medical details include Kennedy being placed on a respirator and administered intravenous fluids at the hotel and Good Samaritan Hospital. FBI interviews and reports document witness statements, security arrangements, and investigative efforts to identify the shooter.  

Key People  
- **Robert F. Kennedy** (assassinated)  
- **Pete Hamill** (witness; described suspect’s actions during shooting)  
- **Rafer Johnson** (witness; detailed movements and events at hotel)  
- **Rosie Grier** (subdued suspect, seized gun)  
- **Sirhan Sirhan** (suspect; identified by multiple witnesses)  
- **Frank Mankiewicz** (press secretary; noted Kennedy’s route and Paul Schrade’s injury)  
- **Dr. Ross-Matthew Mittelheuser** (surgeon; treated Kennedy at hotel and hospital)  
- **George Plimpion** (speech attendee; described struggle with suspect)  
- **Bill Barry** (Kennedy’s bodyguard; present at hotel)  
- **Paul Schrade** (United Auto Workers official; found unconscious near Kennedy)  
- **Jessie Unruh** (California State Assembly speaker; detailed shooting sequence)  
- **Warren Rogers** (WDC Bureau Chief for *Look!* Magazine; present during speech)  
- **Walter Sheridan** (NBC correspondent; mentioned Sirhan B. Shihan and Caesar Chavez)  
- **Steven Smith** (Kennedy campaign coordinator; provided itineraries)  
- **Theodore Sorensen** (campaign member; present at hotel but did not witness shooting)  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of Kennedy’s speech and the shooting. Specific areas include the Embassy Room, Colonial Room, kitchen access hallway, ballroom, and elevator hallway.  
- **Good Samaritan Hospital**: Where Kennedy received medical treatment after being shot.  
- **Rampart Division (Los Angeles Police Department)**: Location where Sirhan was taken post-apprehension.  
- **Compton, California**: Dr. Mittelheuser’s residence and location of his medical practice.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968 Victory Speech**: Kennedy delivered a speech at the Ambassador Hotel’s ballroom, attended by media and supporters.  
- **Shooting Incident**: Gunshots were heard as Kennedy exited the stage or moved through corridors; witnesses reported multiple shots in rapid succession.  
- **Struggle for the Gun**: Sirhan was subdued by individuals including Rosie Grier, Bill Barry, Jack (red-haired man), and others; the gun was recovered during a physical struggle.  
- **Medical Response**: Dr. Mittelheuser treated Kennedy at the hotel and hospital, noting his placement on a respirator and administration of intravenous fluids.  
- **Post-Shooting Activity**: Witnesses followed Kennedy to the hospital, with some (e.g., Plimpion) remaining to assist in subduing Sirhan before departing.  
- **Apprehension of Sirhan B. Shihan**: Described by Unruh, including his arrest and statements post-shooting.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and investigations; documents reference FBI forms and release under E.O. 14176.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Handled post-shooting response, including securing the gun and apprehending Sirhan.  
- **Kennedy Campaign Staff**: Managed itineraries and security arrangements for Kennedy’s West Coast tour.  
- **CBS**: Employed John William Lewis as part of their coverage team for RFK’s campaign.  
- **National Broadcasting Company (NBC)**: Employed Walter Sheridan as a correspondent with access to campaign details.

RFK Declassified Files

fbi_experience_rfk-2017_0108-box_003_folder_079-part_2_of_2.pdf

Document Summary

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