Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Conclusion on Oswald’s capability to commit the assassination

The various tests established that the Mannlicher-Carcano was an accurate rifle and that the four-power scope substantially aided rapid, accurate firing. Oswald’s Marine training in marksmanship, his other rifle experience, and his familiarity with this particular weapon demonstrated that he possessed ample capability to commit the assassination. Marine marksmanship experts Major Anderson and Sergeant Zahm concurred that Oswald had the capability to fire three shots with two hits within 4.8 to 5.6 seconds. Regarding the shot striking the President in the back of the neck, Sergeant Zahm testified that with Oswald’s equipment and ability, “it was a very easy shot.” Having fired this shot, the assassin was required to hit the target one more time within 4.8 to 5.6 seconds. The Commission concluded that Oswald was capable of accomplishing this second hit even if there was an intervening missed shot. The probability of a second hit would have been markedly increased if Oswald had missed the first or third shot, leaving a 4.8 to 5.6 second window between the two successful shots. The Commission agreed with Zahm’s testimony that it was “an easy shot” to hit some part of the President’s body, and that the expected hit zone at that range would include the President’s head.

Final Commission findings and conclusion on Lee Harvey Oswald as assassin

On the basis of the evidence reviewed in the chapter, the Commission found that Lee Harvey Oswald: (1) owned and possessed the rifle used to kill President Kennedy and wound Governor Connally, (2) brought this rifle into the Depository Building on the morning of the assassination, (3) was present at the time of the assassination at the window from which the shots were fired, (4) killed Dallas Police Officer J. D. Tippit in an apparent attempt to escape, (5) resisted arrest by drawing a fully loaded pistol and attempting to shoot another police officer, (6) lied to the police after his arrest concerning important substantive matters, (7) attempted to kill Maj. Gen. Edwin A. Walker in April 1963, and (8) possessed the capability with a rifle that would have enabled him to commit the assassination. On the basis of these findings, the Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin of President Kennedy.