Robert F. Kennedy shot and gravely wounded 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1968)

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(Wednesday, June 5, 1968, at approximately 12:15 a.m. PDT; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York, the younger brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, was shot and critically wounded this morning at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles just after he claimed victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary.

Kennedy was exiting the Ambassador Hotel’s Embassy Room ballroom through the hotel kitchen when he turned to his left and shook hands with busboy Juan Romero. The gunman stepped down from a low tray-stacker beside an ice machine, rushed past Kennedy’s escort, maître d’hôtel Karl Uecker, and repeatedly fired what was later identified as a .22 caliber Iver-Johnson Cadet revolver.

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Kennedy, shot three times, fell to the floor. One bullet, fired at a range of about one inch, entered behind his right ear, dispersing fragments throughout his brain. The other two entered at the rear of his right armpit; one exited from his chest and the other lodged in the back of his neck.

Five others were also wounded, including Paul Schrade, an official with the United Automobile Workers union; William Weisel, an ABC-TV unit manager; Ira Goldstein, a reporter with the Continental News Service; Elizabeth Evans, a friend of Pierre Salinger, one of Kennedy’s campaign aides; and Irwin Stroll, a teenage Kennedy volunteer (they would all recover from their wounds).

The gunman, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian Arab with Jordanian citizenship who held strongly anti-Zionist beliefs, was arrested on the scene.

As Kennedy lay wounded, Romero cradled the senator’s head and placed a rosary in his hand. Kennedy asked Romero, “Is everybody OK?” and Romero responded, “Yes, everybody’s OK.” Kennedy then turned away from Romero and said, “Everything’s going to be OK.”

Kennedy’s wife Ethel, who was three months pregnant, stood outside the crush of people at the scene, seeking help. She was soon led to her husband and knelt beside him. He turned his head and seemed to recognize her.

After several minutes, medical attendants arrived and lifted Kennedy onto a stretcher, prompting him to whisper, “Don’t lift me”, which were his last words. He lost consciousness shortly thereafter.

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