</s>II. THE ASSASSINATION INVESTIGATION A. Events Surrounding April 4, 1968 1. The Poor People's Campaign To understand the movements of Dr. King during this critical period, it is necessary to briefly discuss the Poor People's Campaign (POCAM), originally called the Washington Spring Project in which he and the SCLC were involved. POCAN was scheduled to begin the first week of April 1968, and involved recruiting some 3,000 poor unemployed blacks from 16 localities in the United States for the purpose of going to Washington, D.C ., and petitioning the government to improve their economic status (HR 157-8428-51). The plan was to camp on the Washington Monument or Lincoln Memorial grounds (HQ 157-828-132). During the first and second weeks, demands would be made of congressmen and heads of departments, such as the Secretary of Labor. If the demands were not met, nonviolent demonstrations were to be conducted (HQ 15-57-108-109). Dr. King's planned travel schedule for February and March included trips to 9 major cities and visits to various points in Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia (HQ 151-848-75). By mid February Dr. king had become discouraged with the lack of progress in recruiting and - 14 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document provides a detailed account of the FBI’s investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on the identification and apprehension of James Earl Ray as the perpetrator. Key evidence includes a 1966 white Mustang linked to Ray, found abandoned in Atlanta on April 5, 1968, with maps and a booklet indicating knowledge of King’s residence and SCLC headquarters. Ray’s movements were traced through Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Atlanta, where he registered at a rooming house and used laundry services. Fingerprints from the rifle, binoculars, and Atlanta map matched Ray’s records, confirming his identity. A passport search in Canada revealed a forged document under the name Ramon George Sneyd, later linked to Ray. Ray was apprehended in London on June 8, 1968, after purchasing a ticket to Brussels. The FBI also investigated alleged conspiracies but concluded no credible evidence beyond Galt/Ray’s involvement.  

Key People  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (victim)  
- James Earl Ray (identified as Eric Starvo Galt, perpetrator)  
- Charles Stein and Rita Stein (roommates of Ray in Los Angeles)  
- Marie Martin (Ray’s associate in New Orleans)  
- Ramon George Sneyd (passport alias used by Ray)  
- FBI agents and personnel  
- SAC Robert G. Jensen (FBI Memphis Field Office director)  
- Inspector Nevelyn E. Zachary (Memphis Police Department Homicide Squad)  

Key Locations  
- Lorraine Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee (scene of assassination)  
- Bessie Brewer’s Rooming House, Memphis  
- Campie Amusement Company, 424 South Main Street, Memphis  
- Aero Marine Supply Company, Birmingham, Alabama  
- Rebel Motel, Memphis  
- Atlanta, Georgia (abandoned Mustang found)  
- Hollywood, California (Home Service Laundry)  
- London, United Kingdom (apprehension site)  
- Toronto, Canada (Kennedy Travel Agency)  

Key Events  
- Dr. King’s assassination by a high-powered rifle at the Lorraine Hotel on April 4, 1968.  
- Deployment of MPD Tactical Unit 10 to secure the scene and pursue a suspect in a white Mustang.  
- Recovery of physical evidence, including a Remington Gamemaster rifle, beer cans, binoculars, and a York Arms sales receipt, from Campie Amusement Company.  
- FBI investigation tracing the rifle and other items to Birmingham, Alabama, and linking them to Eric Starvo Galt.  
- Identification of Galt as James Earl Ray via fingerprint comparison.  
- Discovery of a 1966 white Mustang abandoned in Atlanta, connected to Galt’s Alabama license plates.  
- Passport search in Canada leading to Ramon George Sneyd’s passport.  
- Ray’s apprehension in London on June 8, 1968, after purchasing a ticket to Brussels.  

Key Organizations  
- Memphis Police Department (MPD)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Shelby County Sheriff’s Department  
- Aero Marine Supply Company (Birmingham, Alabama)  
- York Arms Company (Memphis, Tennessee)  
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)  
- New Scotland Yard  
- Kennedy Travel Agency (Toronto)

MLK Declassified Files

157-tp-3231_629182_176-02-part_2_of_6.pdf

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