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

Oswald’s Encounter with Law Enforcement

Shortly after his encounter with Patrolman Baker and building superintendent Truly on the Depository’s second floor, Oswald was seen passing through the second-floor offices holding a full Coke bottle purchased from the lunchroom vending machine, heading toward the building’s front entrance. He exited the building and boarded a westbound bus on Elm Street 7 blocks east of the Depository around 12:40 p.m., where he was recognized by his former landlady Mary Bledsoe. After staying on the bus for only 3-4 minutes during which it traveled just 2 blocks due to traffic from the motorcade and shooting, Oswald exited the bus and entered a vacant taxi 4 blocks away, asking to be dropped off several blocks past his roominghouse at 1026 North Beckley Avenue in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas.

Oswald’s Escape from Dallas

Oswald arrived at his roominghouse shortly before 1 p.m., surprising housekeeper Earlene Roberts with his unexpected midday visit and hurried demeanor. He made no comment when she remarked he seemed to be in a rush, then retrieved his jacket from his room and fled the property, placing him in the area near the site of the next violent incident in the immediate aftermath of the assassination.

Tippit Shooting

At approximately 1:15 p.m., roughly 45 minutes after the presidential assassination, Dallas patrolman J.D. Tippit was driving slowly east on East 10th Street in Oak Cliff, having been directed to the area via radio at 12:45 p.m. as part of a citywide patrol concentration following the assassination, and having confirmed his availability for emergencies at 12:54 p.m. Tippit pulled alongside a man walking east on 10th Street near Patton Avenue who matched the general description of the suspect broadcast over police radio; after exchanging words through the car window, Tippit opened his door and began walking around the front of his vehicle, at which point the man drew a revolver and fired four shots in rapid succession, killing Tippit instantly. Witness Domingo Benavides stopped nearby, observed the gunman removing spent cartridge cases from his weapon as he fled toward Patton Avenue, and promptly reported the shooting to police headquarters via Tippit’s patrol car radio shortly after 1:16 p.m.