</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4:15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date 4/13/68 Patrolman VERNON VERNARD DOLLAHITE, Patrol Division, Shelby County Sheriff's Office, residence 3530 Dawn Drive, Apartments 12, home telephone 3330-6067, Memphis, AR, Chula Vista, Memphis 3330 Daven Drive, Apartment 12, Home Telephone Lisbonne, Memphis. AR, CHULKIDE Interviews Police Department, and SA FRANKLIN L. JOHNSON, at which time he re-reacted his movements on the afternoon of Amber, and his movements that he was at the intersection of KING had been shot at the Lorraine Motel. He turned off the following information: On Thursday, April 1, 1968, he was assigned to to Tactical No. 10, consisting of 12 men assigned to who was Deputy Sheriff's half of the whom were police officers who were involved in the incident at Main and Butler around 6:00 p.m ., when he learned that Dr. KING had been Shot. Inside the fire station when he heard someone yell that Around 6:30 p. m. and other officers were Dr. KINC had shot. Dr. King was shot. He heard someone yelling that door on the north side of the firestation, then then east toward the Loraine Motel, jumping over a fence. wall dropping the side of a fire station, then walk while dropping the ground about the side to Mulberry Street. He then ran to the driveway on Mulberry Streeet, which leads into the Lorraine Motel on a point beneath the leads Into the Lorrairie Motel to a point Beneath the that he heard an unknown Negro male at the scene say, the dirty man-police shot him ... As he ran into the driveway, he dropped his firearm and had to stop momentarily and pick up the firearm, and he stopped momentarily and Pick up the going to the barricade. The body was lying on After deteraining that other officers was converging on the area, to the immediately ran out of the driveway, running north on Mulbury Street, then Hulling and was running street to Main Street, Then south on Main Street. As he on 4/11/68 at Memphis, Tennessee. 4/11 /68 at Memphis, Tennessee File # # Memphis 44-1987-Lief D-75 SA FRANKLIN L. JOHNSON W:P <loc_166><loc_895>4/12/68 by Date dictated This document contains neither recommendation not conclusion of the FBI. It is the property of the Fbi and is loaned to your agency, it is its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

Summary:  
The documents detail witness accounts and investigative findings related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis. Reverend KYLES described the direction of the shot as coming from the west toward the east, noting that an ambulance transported King’s body to St. Joseph Hospital. He analyzed photographs from *Life Magazine* showing King’s body lying face up on concrete after the shooting, emphasizing that no bedspread covered him at the time. KYLES also recounted the dinner guests expected at King’s room, including Reverend A.D. Williams, Mrs. LUKKE WARD, and others, noting minimal public awareness of the event. He concluded no suspicious activity was observed near the hotel prior to the shooting. Lloyd Jowers, owner of Jim's Grill, reported a stranger in a dark suit visiting his establishment on April 4 and again on April 5, later identified as Gene Pearson Crawford, who was not involved in the murder. Witnesses at Jim's Grill, including Steve Cuppies, David Wood, Kenneth Foster, and Billy Ray Hoard, described cars parked near the hotel, including a white Mustang and Cadillac, but none saw anyone enter or exit the Mustang during the incident. Multiple accounts noted the absence of gunfire sounds due to ambient noise in the grill.  

Key People:  
- Reverend KYLES (analyzed crime scene photos and provided directional details)  
- Lloyd Jowers (owner of Jim's Grill, reported a stranger)  
- Gene Pearson Crawford (identified as the individual seen at Jim's Grill, later cleared of involvement)  
- Steve Cuppies, David Wood, Kenneth Foster, Billy Ray Hoard, Paul Gargas, Barry Tubbs (witnesses at Jim's Grill describing cars and events)  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (victim of the assassination)  

Key Locations:  
- Lorraine Hotel (site of the assassination)  
- St. Joseph Hospital (where King’s body was transported)  
- Jim's Grill (Memphis, Tennessee; location where witnesses observed vehicles and activity)  
- South Main Street (location of the hotel and grill)  

Key Events:  
- Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Hotel on April 4, 1968  
- Ambulance transport of King’s body to St. Joseph Hospital  
- Witness accounts of cars parked near the hotel, including a white Mustang and Cadillac  
- Identification of Gene Pearson Crawford as a person seen at Jim's Grill but not involved in the murder  
- Analysis of crime scene photographs by Reverend KYLES regarding the position of King’s body  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (involved in investigation, documented witness statements)  
- Memphis Police Department (arrested Gene Pearson Crawford)  
- Taylor Paper Company (employers of witnesses who provided accounts of events at Jim's Grill)

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_74-02-part_4_of_6.pdf

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