JFK conclusion more than one shooter

The Zapruder film shows us when the last two shots hit the JFK limousine and the forensic facts tell us from whence they came. Witness statements support the timing of the last two shots seen on the Zapruder film.

There were bullet fragments found in the front seat area of the limousine and were fired from Lee H. Oswald's rifle. There was damage to the front windshield. One damaged area was a large dent in the chrome strip above the windshield on the inside. The bullet fragment that caused this damage would have made a significant sound upon impact and would have physically moved the front windshield window frame for an instant.

The first of the last two shots occurred as JFK was seen slumped to his left. This shot occurred in Z313. JFK is seen violently thrown back and to his left in subsequent Zapruder frames and witnesses tell us that JFK had a large hole in the back of his head. The last shot occurs at Z322 where it can be seen that a reflection flare in the vicinity of SSA Kellerman's head exhibits itself for just this one frame. So direct bullet impact shows up in just one frame for each shot. Since the reflection flare indicates that this is when the chrome was damaged then logic tells us that the shot was from Oswald's rifle. So we have two shots less than a second apart and from two different directions. Therefore there was a conspiracy in the murder of JFK.

Special Agent George W. Hickey, Jr. of the United States Secret Service riding in the car behind the President said in his report dated 11-22-63 "....I heard a loud report which sounded like a firecracker. ......I stood up and looked to my right and rear........Perhaps 2 or 3 seconds elapsed ......and then looked at the President. He was slumped forward and to his left, and was straightening up to an almost erect sitting position as I turned and looked. At the moment he was almost sitting erect I heard two reports which I thought were shots and that appeared to me completely different in sound than the first report and were in such rapid succession that there seemed to be practically no time element between them........."

My theory is and it is supported by evidence independent of Mr. Hickey that the shot sounds were 'pop..pop..POW...(pause)...POW.POW.' The 'pop..pop..POW' in my opinion was interpreted as sounding like a firecracker by Mr. Hickey. Many other ear witnesses reported that the first shot sounded like a firecracker or a motorcycle backfiring. Whatever the sounds witnesses actually heard for this firecracker sound it was later thought to be the first shot of three.

Mr. Hickey continued to say "....The first shot of the second two seemed as if it missed because the hair on the right side of his head flew forward and there didn't seem to be any impact against his head. The last shot seemed to hit his head and cause a noise at the point of impact which made him fall forward and to his left again. Possibly four or five seconds elapsed from the time of the first report and the last."

If one views the Zapruder film and studies the movements of the President during the head shot it becomes apparent that Mr. Hickey was viewing the reactions of the head shot in his descriptions of "...was straightening up..." and "..hair on the right side of his head flew forward.."

So the last shot occurred as the President was "..noise at the point of impact which made him fall forward and to his left again." We know that the head shot was at Zapruder film frame Z313 and we know JFK is falling forward and to his left again at Z330. This is essentially one second in time because Zapruder's camera has been measured to operate at 18.3 frames per second. The bullets hit their targets a fraction of a second ahead of the sounds that reached Hickey's ears and his mind's recognition of those sounds. Those two shots had to be less than a second apart.

Conclusions: The actual shooting sequence evidence does not support just a single shooter firing Oswald's rifle. It was determined by tests that a shooter using Oswald's rifle should take at least 2.3 seconds between shots.

Other agents in the motorcade reported similar sounds and sequence which support Hickey's account.

Special Agent William R. Greer, driver of the Presidential limousine said in his W.C. testimony "..The last two seemed to be just simultaneously, one behind the other...."

Special Agent Roy H. Kellerman operating the radio in the Presidential limousine said in his W. C. testimony ".."We are hit; get us to the hospital immediately". Now, in the seconds that I talked just now, a flurry of shells come into the car. ..."

Special Agent Winston G. Lawson in the car ahead of the Presidential limousine said in his W. C. testimony "...then I heard two more sharp reports, the second two were closer together than the first. "

Special Agent In Charge Emory P. Roberts riding in the car behind the Presidential limousine said in his report November 29, 1963 "12:30 p.m. First of three shots fired, at which time I saw the President lean towards Mrs. Kennedy. I do not know if it was the next shot or third shot that hit the President in the head, ...."

Conclusions: The actual shooting sequence evidence does not support just a single shooter firing Oswald's rifle. It was determined by tests that a shooter using Oswald's rifle should take at least 2.3 seconds between shots.