</s>KING, William Bishop Lorraine SA Quinn Motel Smith I-97 Fireman who observed shooting. Can describe scene in general terms. States that newspapers covered windows so that Memphis Police could keep King party under surveillance without being seen. Thinks shot was from rifle and came from left. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail accounts from individuals who witnessed or were involved in events surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Key witnesses include Rev. Bernard Lee, Andrew Young, James Orange, and others present at the motel. The shooting occurred around 6:05 p.m., with multiple accounts describing the location (balcony of room 306), direction of the shot (from west to east or northwest), and immediate aftermath. Witnesses such as Lt. George Loenneke and James Laue reported observing King on the balcony, hearing the gunshot, and witnessing his fall. Rev. Lee and Andrew Young were among those who rushed to King's side. The documents also include descriptions of the motel layout, measurements taken by FBI agents for forensic analysis, and photographic evidence captured by Joseph Low. Additional details mention planned dinners with King, his arrival in Memphis on April 3, and interactions with staff and associates at the motel.  

Key People  
- **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.** (assassinated)  
- **Ralph Abernathy** (King's associate)  
- **Andrew Young** (King's aide)  
- **Rev. Bernard Lee** (witness, later identified as a suspect in some accounts)  
- **James Orange** (King's staff member)  
- **Joseph Low** (photographer at the motel)  
- **Lt. George Loenneke** (firehouse observer)  
- **James Laue** (witness who saw King on the balcony)  
- **Rev. Billy Kyles** (planned dinner with King)  
- **Mrs. Lucretia Ward** (witness, reported hearing the shot)  

Key Locations  
- **Lorraine Motel** (Memphis, Tennessee): Site of the assassination; specific references to room 306 and its balcony.  
- **Firehouse on Main Street**: Observers noted from windows, including Lt. Loenneke and Charles Stone.  
- **Courtyard of Lorraine Motel**: Described as a location for movement and observation.  
- **Memphis Police Department** (implied through witness accounts of police arrival).  

Key Events  
- **Dr. King's stay at the Lorraine Motel**: Arrived April 3, checked into room 306 with Abernathy.  
- **Assassination on April 4, 1968**: Shot occurred around 6:05 p.m., with witnesses reporting a high-powered rifle firing from across the street (west side of Mulberry Street).  
- **Immediate aftermath**: Witnesses rushed to King's side; he was found bleeding on the balcony. Police and ambulance arrived shortly after.  
- **Witness accounts**: Multiple individuals described the direction of the shot, King's position, and their actions post-shooting.  
- **Photographic documentation**: Joseph Low took photos of the scene and King's body. Aerial photographs and measurements were conducted for forensic analysis.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Involved in measuring the murder scene and analyzing witness accounts.  
- **Community Relations Service** (affiliated with James Laue’s extradition affidavit).  
- **Memphis Police Department**: Responded to the shooting, with officers noted in witness statements.  
- **Lorraine Motel staff**: Included individuals like Norwood (desk clerk), Miller (cook/waitress), and others who provided details about King's stay and events.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-43418_bulky_1_sec_002_ser_1_only-part_31_of_63.pdf

Document Summary

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