Fact Check: an ice bullet kill kennedy

Fact Check: "An ice bullet killed Kennedy"

What We Know

The claim that "an ice bullet killed Kennedy" is not supported by credible evidence or historical accounts. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, was investigated extensively by the Warren Commission, which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots from a rifle, specifically a 6.5 mm Carcano, from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. The bullets used in the assassination were identified and preserved, with one bullet, known as "Warren Commission Exhibit 399" (CE 399), being particularly significant as it was believed to have caused multiple wounds to both Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally (Wikipedia).

The concept of an "ice bullet" is more aligned with fictional narratives than with forensic science. Ice bullets, if they existed, would likely disintegrate upon firing due to the heat generated and would not maintain the structural integrity necessary to inflict lethal damage. The bullets recovered from the assassination were made of metal, specifically lead with a copper jacket, and were subjected to forensic analysis (NIST).

Analysis

The assertion that an ice bullet was used in the assassination lacks any credible basis in forensic evidence or historical documentation. The Warren Commission's findings, supported by forensic experts, indicate that the bullets used were standard military-grade ammunition, specifically designed for the Carcano rifle (Wikipedia).

Moreover, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has preserved the bullets and fragments from the assassination, providing detailed documentation and analysis of their physical characteristics. This preservation effort underscores the importance of the actual bullets used in the assassination, which were not ice but rather conventional metal projectiles (NIST).

The idea of an ice bullet appears to stem from conspiracy theories and fictional portrayals rather than factual evidence. No reputable sources or forensic analyses support the existence or use of ice bullets in any assassination context, let alone in the assassination of a U.S. president.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that "an ice bullet killed Kennedy" is false. The evidence from the Warren Commission and subsequent forensic analyses clearly indicate that the bullets used in the assassination were conventional metal projectiles, specifically fired from a Carcano rifle. The notion of an ice bullet is not supported by any credible historical or scientific evidence.