</s>Davis, Mrs. (Norman Lorraine SA Walsh On 3/23/68 Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Lukie Ward left Louisville, Ky ., for vacation; stayed night at Holiday Inn near Birmingham, next VI-20 night stayed Howard Johnson Motel near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Next day drove to Panama City, Fla ., and rented Kitcheette of Treasure Island Motel. Rev. A.D. Williams King flew to Panama City,Fla. and stayed in adjoining kitchenette. They went together and Memphis, Tenn ., to Lorraine Motel ., Mrs .. Davis had room 201; Mrs. Ward, room 207, They looked for Martin Luther King, but could not find him. Martin Luther King arrived at about 3 a.m. by taxi with Rev. Ralph Abernathy and Rev. Bernard Lee; all were invited by Mrs. Ward to join them in room 207. Abernathy; 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains accounts from individuals present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, detailing Martin Luther King Jr.'s activities and the events surrounding his assassination. Mrs. Davis (Norman Lorraine) and Mrs. Lukie Ward stayed at the motel during their visit to Memphis. Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Ward sought Dr. King but could not find him until around 3 a.m., when he arrived with Rev. Ralph Abernathy and Rev. Bernard Lee. King stayed in room 201, while Mrs. Davis was in room 201 and Mrs. Ward in room 207. King left for room 306 after 5 a.m. and returned to room 201 later that morning. He spoke with Mrs. Davis about rescheduling his march from April 5 to April 8, 1968. At approximately 5:45 p.m., King planned to attend dinner at Rev. Billy Kyle’s home but was shot while on the balcony near room 306. Mrs. Davis heard the gunshot, found King’s body, and stayed until an ambulance arrived. Witnesses included Chauncey Eskridge, Solomon Jones, and others who described King’s movements and the shooting. The document includes statements from law enforcement personnel, such as Detective R.R. Holder and Sheriff W.A. Dufour, regarding investigations into the incident.  

Key People  
- **Mrs. Davis (Norman Lorraine)**: Stayed at the Lorraine Motel; interacted with Dr. King on April 4, 1968.  
- **Mrs. Lukie Ward**: Accompanied Mrs. Davis to Memphis; stayed in room 207.  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.**: Shot and killed at the Lorraine Motel around 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968.  
- **Rev. Ralph Abernathy** and **Rev. Bernard Lee**: Accompanied King to Memphis; present during his stay at the motel.  
- **Chauncey Eskridge**: Witnessed King’s movements and described the shooting location.  
- **Solomon Jones**: King’s chauffeur; observed King on the balcony before the shooting.  
- **Detective R.R. Holder** and **Sheriff W.A. Dufour**: Involved in post-assassination investigations.  

Key Locations  
- **Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of Dr. King’s assassination. Specific rooms mentioned include 201 (Mrs. Davis), 207 (Mrs. Ward), and 306 (King’s room).  
- **Rev. Billy Kyle’s home**: Where King planned to attend dinner before the shooting.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Dr. King stayed at the Lorraine Motel; interacted with Mrs. Davis and others.  
- **5:45 p.m.**: King prepared to leave for Rev. Billy Kyle’s home but was shot on the balcony near room 306.  
- **Post-assassination**: Witnesses including Eskridge, Jones, and others provided accounts of the shooting and King’s final moments.  
- **Investigations**: Law enforcement personnel conducted interviews and collected evidence at the motel.  

Key Organizations  
- **Lorraine Motel**: Site of the assassination; involved in witness statements and forensic analysis.  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)**: Mentioned in context of King’s activities and strategy meetings.  
- **Memphis Police Department**: Involved in post-assassination investigations, including measurements and crime scene documentation.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-43418_bulky_1_sec_002_ser_1_only-part_30_of_63.pdf

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