</s>FIELD OFFICE FILE FODA PROCESSED FED, RAL BUREAU ENTRE TILLE FOR MESTORI INVESTIGATION 2019 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14170

The document contains fragmented accounts from John McFerren, a grocery store owner in Somerville, Tennessee, regarding his interactions with an individual he believed might be involved in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. McFerren described a "heavy set man" and another individual with a scar on his right cheek who allegedly discussed plans to harm King. He claimed the suspect was approximately 25 years old, 5'6" to 6 feet tall, weighed 140 pounds, had a slender build, and appeared to be of Puerto Rican or Cuban descent. McFerren also mentioned that he informed his wife about the description of the suspect, who later appeared in a sketch published in the Commercial Appeal. He further stated that the individual was not American but possibly from Latin America. McFerren reportedly discussed these details with BASTON BRYANT on April 7, 1968. The text also includes FBI interview notes from April 11, 1968, involving McFerren and others, as well as statements from Walter Bailey, owner of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, who noted Dr. King’s unusual behavior on the day of the assassination and heard a gunshot around 6:00 p.m.  

Key People  
- **John McFerren**: Grocery store owner in Somerville, Tennessee, who provided descriptions of a suspect linked to MLK’s assassination.  
- **BASTON BRYANT**: Individual with whom McFerren reportedly shared information about the suspect on April 7, 1968.  
- **Walter Bailey**: Owner of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, who described Dr. King’s behavior on April 4, 1968, and heard a gunshot around 6:00 p.m.  

Key Locations  
- **Somerville, Tennessee**: McFerren’s residence and business location.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of the Lorraine Hotel where Dr. King stayed and where the assassination occurred.  
- **Lorraine Hotel (406 Mulberry Street)**: Location associated with Dr. King’s final stay and the shooting incident.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Date of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **Interviews by FBI agents** (e.g., SA STEPHEN M. DARLINGTON): Conducted on April 11, 1968, to gather information about the suspect and events surrounding the assassination.  
- **Gunshot heard at approximately 6:00 p.m.**: Reported by Walter Bailey near the Lorraine Hotel on April 4, 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and investigations related to the assassination.  
- **Tennessee Council on Human Relations**: Mentioned in connection with BASTON BRYANT’s involvement in the case.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_74-02-part_1_of_6.pdf

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