Fact Check: Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of first-degree murder.

Fact Check: Robert F. Kennedy's Assassination

What We Know

On June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy, a prominent U.S. senator and presidential candidate, was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. He had just delivered a victory speech after winning the California primary election. Shortly after midnight, as he exited through a kitchen pantry, he was shot multiple times by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian man. Kennedy was pronounced dead the following day, June 6, 1968, at Good Samaritan Hospital (Wikipedia, AP News).

Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder on April 17, 1969, and initially sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment in 1972 (Wikipedia). Sirhan's motivations were reportedly linked to his opposition to Kennedy's pro-Israel stance, which he believed was detrimental to Palestinians (Wikipedia, History).

Analysis

The claim that Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan on June 5, 1968, is well-documented and supported by multiple credible sources. The event is a significant historical moment, often discussed in the context of political violence in the United States during the 1960s.

The primary source of information, the Wikipedia entry on the assassination, provides a comprehensive overview of the events leading up to the shooting, the circumstances of the assassination, and the subsequent trial of Sirhan Sirhan. This source is generally reliable, as it is frequently updated and cites numerous historical records and eyewitness accounts.

Additional sources, such as the AP News article and History, corroborate the timeline of events and the details surrounding Kennedy's assassination. These sources provide context about Kennedy's political career and the atmosphere of the time, which was marked by social unrest and political turmoil.

While there are numerous conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy's assassination, the consensus among historians and legal experts is that Sirhan Sirhan acted alone. The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they are established news organizations and academic references.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of first-degree murder, is accurate. The event is well-documented, with substantial evidence supporting the timeline and details of the assassination.

Sources

1. Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy - Wikipedia
2. Sirhan Sirhan - Wikipedia
3. Today in History: June 5, Robert F. Kennedy shot - AP News
4. Robert F. Kennedy is fatally shot | June 5, 1968 | HISTORY
5. 50 years after shots rang out at the Ambassador Hotel, controversy ...
6. The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, Los Angeles, California
7. History Today: How America's Robert F Kennedy was shot dead in Los Angeles
8. Key figures associated with RFK's assassination - NBC News