</s>FD-302'S MEMPHIS O O 2015 RELEASE UNDER E.D. 1978

Summary  
The documents detail FBI and Memphis Police Department investigations into events surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Witness accounts describe Dr. King’s presence on the second-floor balcony of Room 406, facing Mulberry Street, and a single gunshot heard around 6:00 p.m. Following the shooting, chaos erupted as witnesses fled the area. The FBI interviewed hotel staff, activists, and local residents to gather information about Dr. King’s movements and potential threats. No direct evidence linked individuals at the Rebel Motor Hotel or Lorraine Motel to the assassination. Physical descriptions of a suspect include a white male in his 30s, wearing a dark suit, with sandy hair and a clean-shaven appearance. Witnesses reported observing a man carrying a bundle near the motel area, though accounts vary regarding his actions, direction, and identity. The documents emphasize fragmented witness testimony and lack consensus on the shooter’s motive or identity.  

Key People  
- **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.**: Assassinated at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968.  
- **Marrell McCullough**: Local activist who witnessed Dr. King fall after being shot.  
- **Rev. Jesse Jackson**: Present at the scene, observed Dr. King’s body and interactions with other witnesses.  
- **Solomon Jones**: Funeral director who confirmed Dr. King stayed at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968.  
- **Reverend Andrew Young**: Accompanied Dr. King during his stay at the motel.  
- **Frank Brewer and Mrs. Bessie Ruth Brewer**: Roommates who reported hearing a noise and observing a man on the second floor of their rooming house.  
- **Charles Stephens**: Tenant at 4122 South Main Street who described a man running from Apartment 5B with a bundle.  
- **Guy Warren Canipe**: Store owner who observed a white car and a man dropping a bundle near his store.  
- **Julius L. Graham**: Witnessed a white Mustang parked near the Lorraine Motel and noted a man dropping a package before hearing a shot.  

Key Locations  
- **Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of Dr. King’s assassination; described as having a second-floor balcony or ledge.  
- **Rebel Motor Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee**: Where Eric S. Galt registered on April 3, 1968; staff confirmed room assignments for Rooms 33/34/35.  
- **422 S. Main Street, Memphis**: Rooming house where Frank Brewer and Mrs. Brewer resided.  
- **4122 South Main Street, Memphis**: Apartment complex where Charles Stephens lived.  
- **Canipe Amusement Company (424 South Main Street), Memphis**: Store where Guy Warren Canipe observed the incident.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Dr. King was shot at the Lorraine Motel; witnesses reported a gunshot from the northwest direction. A man carrying a bundle was seen near the motel area.  
- **April 5, 1968**: FBI and Memphis Police Department interviewed witnesses, including Charlie Quitman Stephens, Mrs. Bessie Ruth Brewer, and others, to gather details about the suspect’s appearance and actions.  
- **Observations of vehicles**: A white car (possibly a compact model) was noted near the Lorraine Motel or Canipe’s store.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and documented witness statements as part of the investigation into Dr. King’s assassination.  
- **Memphis Police Department**: Involved in the investigation, with officers like Lt. J.D. Hamby and SA Franklin L. Johnson collecting testimonies from witnesses.  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)**: Active in Memphis during the sanitation workers’ strike; Dr. King delivered a speech on March 28, 1968, advocating for the strike.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861-bulky_hs1-233652821_80-01-part_1_of_2.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search