Description of Shooting
Patrolman J.D. Tippit, a Dallas officer since July 1952 described as “a very fine, dedicated officer,” patrolled district No. 78 alone. Radio dispatches at 12:44, 12:45, 12:48, 12:54, and 12:55 p.m. directed officers including Tippit to the central Oak Cliff area and broadcast the suspect’s description as a white male, approximately 30, 5’10“, 165 pounds, slender. At about 1:15 p.m., Tippit stopped a man matching the description on 10th Street; as Tippit walked around the front of his car toward the left front wheel, the man pulled a revolver and fired several shots, killing Tippit instantly. The gunman retreated toward Patton Avenue, ejecting empty cartridges and reloading.
Eyewitnesses
At least 12 persons saw the man with the revolver at or immediately after the shooting. By the evening of November 22, five had identified Oswald in police lineups, a sixth did so the next day, three others later identified him from a photograph, two said Oswald resembled the man, and one felt too distant to make a positive identification.
Taxi Driver William Scoggins
Eating lunch in his cab parked on Patton facing 10th and Patton, Scoggins saw a police car stop about 100 feet from the corner alongside a man in a light-colored jacket. After losing sight behind shrubbery, he heard three or four shots, saw the officer fall, and hid behind his cab as the gunman passed within 12 feet, muttering “Poor damn cop” or “Poor dumb cop.” He identified Oswald in a four-man lineup the next day, though he acknowledged possibly having seen Oswald’s newspaper picture before the identification.
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