Summary:  
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed by a single bullet fired from the bathroom window of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The victim was standing on the second floor of the building at 406 Mulberry Street when he was struck. A witness reported hearing a rifle fire and seeing a man run away from the scene, dropping a bundle near 424 South Main Street. The FBI recovered evidence including a Remington Game Master rifle (Model 760, serial number 46146) with a Redfield telescope sight (SN 47350), Bushnell binoculars (SN D408664), a copy of the *Commercial Appeal* newspaper from April 4, 1968, Mennen aftershave lotion, Schlitz beer can labeled "Mississippi Tax Paid," and a Channel Master radio (Model #6502). Latent fingerprints on these items matched James Earl Ray (FBI file 4405 942 942). The bullet removed from King was identified as 30-caliber metal-jacketed, consistent with the recovered rifle.  

The FBI document referenced in the text appears to conflate information about **James Earl Ray**, the accused in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., with **Eric GALT**, an individual whose activities are described separately. The document notes that Ray escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary on April 23, 1967, and fled to London, England. It also details financial transactions, rental agreements, and interactions with businesses like the **Superior Bulk Film Company** attributed to Eric GALT, who had multiple addresses in Montreal, Birmingham, Alabama, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The FBI Laboratory analyzed handwriting and signatures on documents linked to GALT but found no direct connection to Ray’s known activities. A secret indictment against Ray was filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, on May 7, 1968, though it remained undisclosed publicly.  

Key People:  
- **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.**: Victim of the assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Identified via fingerprints and handwriting analysis as linked to evidence found at the scene.  
- **GALT**: Individual associated with laundry items and a Mustang abandoned in Memphis; connected to James Earl Ray through forensic comparisons.  
- **Harvey Lowmer**: Mentioned in relation to the purchase of a Remington rifle in Birmingham, Alabama.  

Key Locations:  
- **Lorraine Motel (406 Mulberry Street)**: Site of the assassination.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Primary location for the shooting and subsequent investigation.  
- **424 South Main Street**: Area where evidence was dropped by the suspect.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Location of laundry services linked to forensic analysis of fibers and tags.  

Key Events:  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel.  
- **April 5, 1968**: Recovery of evidence from the scene, including firearms, personal items, and a Mustang abandoned in Memphis.  
- **FBI Laboratory analysis**: Examination of fingerprints, bullet composition, laundry tags, and handwriting to link James Earl Ray to the crime.  
- **Handwriting comparisons**: Documents attributed to "ERIC 5. GALT" were linked to James Earl Ray through forensic analysis.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted fingerprint, ballistic, and handwriting analyses; coordinated with local police departments.  
- **Memphis Police Department**: Involved in the initial investigation and recovery of evidence.  
- **Kansas City Division**: Submitted documents for handwriting examination related to James Earl Ray.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861-bulky_hs1-233652821_80-07-part_1_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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