Summary of the verified facts
John F. Kennedy was shot on November 22, 1963, while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. The fatal shot struck the President in the back of the head as his limousine traveled on Elm Street past the Texas School Book Depository building. This verified account draws on official investigations and widely corroborated records to clarify who was involved, where the shots were fired from, and what is documented about the sequence of events.
Key location details and official findings
The shooting occurred in Dealey Plaza, a historic public space in downtown Dallas. The motorcade entered the plaza from Houston Street, turned right onto Elm Street, and proceeded westward. As the limousine passed the north-east corner of the Texas School Book Depository at approximately 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, multiple gunshots were reported. The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald fired from the sixth-floor window of the Depository. The sequence was recorded by several witnesses, by Dallas Police radio, and by the Zapruder home movie. Key moments include the first non-fatal head shot, the period during which the limousine proceeded toward Parkland Hospital, and the immediate fatal head shot near the Stemmons Freeway overpass.
Immediate aftermath and transport
After the shots, the limousine accelerated to Parkland Memorial Hospital, approximately four miles away. The rapid transport and ongoing care attempts did not alter the outcome, and Kennedy was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Local and federal law enforcement quickly secured the crime scene and began collecting evidence, including the limousine, bullet fragments, and photographs from the scene.
Timeline and sequence of events
A concise timeline helps clarify what happened and when, aligning motorcade progress with documented evidence. Times are approximate and subject to small variations depending on source and method of measurement, but the sequence is well established.
| Time (approximate) | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 11:37 a.m. | Air Force One lands at Love Field; motorcade departs airport | Start of the public route through Dallas |
| 12:30 p.m. | Shots fired in Dealey Plaza; Kennedy fatally wounded | Critical event: location and sequence documented by multiple records |
| 12:33 p.m. | Initial radio alerts and first emergency responses | Early communication and first responder mobilization |
| 12:40 p.m. | Motorcade arrives at Parkland Hospital | Attempted medical care; Kennedy pronounced dead |
Official investigations and conclusions
The Warren Commission, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson, conducted the first comprehensive federal investigation and issued its report in September 1964. It concluded that Oswald acted alone and that the shots were fired from the Texas School Book Depository. Subsequent investigations, including the 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations, generally agreed that Oswald fired the shots that killed Kennedy, while examining acoustic and other forensic questions. Law enforcement reports, autopsy materials, and photographic evidence from the scene have remained central references for researchers and historians.
How we know: evidence and sourcing
Key evidence comes from multiple, independent records: the Zapruder film, Dallas police radio recordings, photographs of the scene and the sixth-floor window, and the trajectory analysis of the bullets. The location of the shots was further supported by ballistics tests and by the physical conditions of the rifle and cartridges found at the Depository. Official reports and subsequent studies have consistently pointed to the sixth-floor window at the Texas School Book Depository as the primary firing location for the shots that struck the President.
Distances, positions, and practical context
Dealey Plaza is bounded by buildings on three sides, with the Texas School Book Depository on the north-east side and the Dallas County Records Building on the north-west. The limousine crossed the plaza from south-east to north-west before turning right onto Elm Street. The distance from the Depository window to the limousine at the time of the shots was estimated in official analyses at roughly 200 feet or less. Understanding these positions helps explain why certain witnesses heard shots from the direction of the Book Depository and why subsequent investigations focused on that building and the sixth-floor window in particular.
Key spatial and evidentiary points
- Shooting location: sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository, 411 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas
- Primary route: motorcade traveled south on Houston Street, turned west onto Elm Street across Dealey Plaza
- Immediate destination: Parkland Memorial Hospital, about four miles from the shooting location
- Key evidence sources: Zapruder film, Dallas Police radio recordings, autopsy materials, trajectory analyses
Context and ongoing relevance
The question of where John F. Kennedy was shot is central to understanding both the event itself and its lasting impact on U.S. politics and culture. Dealey Plaza is now a recognized historic site, with the Texas School Book Depository housing the Sixth Floor Museum, which preserves photographs, documents, and artifacts related to the assassination. The clarity of the location and sequence supports informed discussion of the facts while allowing room for ongoing examination of evidence and interpretations within responsible historical research.