</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4:15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date 4/7/68 HAROLD CARTER, 422K, South Main, Apartment 9, advised. that he arrived at home about 4:30 p.m. on April 4, 1968. He went to his room at home and he was still there when he heard a shot about his room and was still still there where he heard police came inside about 10-15 minutes later. CARTER did not see the man who rented apartment 5B, and he did not notice anything unusual before or after he heard the shot. He does not feel he has anything that would help in the investigation of this case. 38 On 4/5/68 at Memphis, Tennessee File # ME 44-1987 SA JACK D. VAHRENEWALD SA EUGENE A. MEDORI JDV:raj 4/6/68 by Date dictated This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency, and it is not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents detail witness accounts, police reports, and investigative findings related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Key witnesses included Reverend Ralph Abernathy, Chauncey Ekridge, Solomon Jones, Rev. Andrew Young, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Rev. Billy Kyle, who described Dr. King’s presence at the motel around 5:45–6:00 PM and the sound of a gunshot followed by his fall from the balcony. Reverend Abernathy estimated the shot originated near the motel’s front door (balcony), while Chauncey Ekridge and Solomon Jones noted the shooter likely came from houses overlooking Mulberry Street. Witnesses like Solomon Jones observed a person fleeing westward, described as approximately 5'11" tall in light clothing, but no suspect was identified.  

The Lorraine Motel (406 Mulberry Street) was confirmed as the shooting location, with Dr. King staying there all day without known threats or suspicious individuals nearby. Hotel staff, including Walter Lane Railey (motel owner), Olivia Hayes, and Mary Ellen Norwood, reported no unusual activity during his stay. A white man was observed dropping a bundle near the motel’s front entrance shortly after the shooting; the bundle contained a green cloth-covered box labeled “Browning” and a suitcase or briefcase. Law enforcement noted a white Mustang (possibly driven by a male in his 30s with dark hair and a dark suit) as a potential vehicle of interest, though no conclusive identification was made.  

Witnesses at Canipie Amusement Company (424 South Main Street), including Bernifil Finley and Julius Graham, described hearing a gunshot around 6:00 PM and seeing a white man drop a package or box near the store’s front door before fleeing in a white Mustang. Deputy Sheriff Eugene Chormley and Patrolman Vernon Dollyhite reported observing skid marks, interactions with individuals at the scene, and a suspect matching physical descriptions (5'6"–5'10", 160 lbs, dark suit). Patrolman Torrence N. Landers noted hearing a gunshot around 5:00 PM and searching for footprints near a cellar door at the Lorraine Motel.  

The Memphis Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were involved in the investigation, with Tactical Unit 10 responding to the scene. The documents emphasize the lack of identified suspects and the critical role of witness accounts in reconstructing the incident, though unresolved details such as the suspicious bundle and vehicle remain unlinked to the assassination.  

Key People  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (assassinated at Lorraine Motel)  
- Reverend Ralph Abernathy, Chauncey Ekridge, Solomon Jones, Rev. Andrew Young, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Billy Kyle (witnesses at Lorraine Motel)  
- Walter Lane Railey (motel owner), Olivia Hayes, Mary Ellen Norwood (hotel staff)  
- Bernifil Finley, Julius Graham (Canipie Amusement Company witnesses)  
- Deputy Sheriff Eugene Chormly, Patrolman Vernon Dollyhite, Patrolman Torrence N. Landers (police officers)  

Key Locations  
- Lorraine Motel (406 Mulberry Street, Memphis, Tennessee)  
- Canipie Amusement Company (424 South Main Street, Memphis)  
- Fire Station at Main and Butler Streets  
- Retaining wall along Mulberry Avenue  
- Cellar door near the Lorraine Motel  

Key Events  
- Shooting of Dr. King at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968 (around 6:00 PM)  
- Witness accounts of a suspect fleeing in a white Mustang after dropping a package near Canipie Amusement Company  
- Police investigation involving skid marks, footprints, and vehicle descriptions  
- Discovery of a suspicious bundle containing a rifle with a scope and other items near the motel  

Key Organizations  
- Memphis Police Department (Mobile Tactical Unit)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)  
- Church of God in Christ Publishing House

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_06-04-part_2_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search