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

The Rifle Picture as a Composite

The Commission found the picture was not a composite. Marina testified she took the photo with Oswald’s Imperial Reflex camera and identified the man as her husband. Photographic experts concurred the image was not a composite.

Oswald’s Descent to the Lunchroom

Time tests demonstrated that Oswald could have placed the rifle behind a box and descended to the second-floor lunchroom before Patrolman Baker and Roy Truly arrived. Oswald was not holding a soft drink bottle or standing by the machine when confronted; he was entering the lunchroom as Baker glimpsed him through the door’s glass panel.

Presence of Others in the Lunchroom

Both Patrolman Baker and Roy Truly stated that Oswald was the only person in the lunchroom when they entered. No other witness to this incident was found by the Commission.

Police Sealing Off the Depository

Police may have begun taking positions at building exits as early as 12:33 p.m., but full blocking was unlikely until at least 12:37 p.m. Oswald was seen near an exit at about 12:33 p.m. and likely had at least seven minutes to exit the building undetected.

Oswald’s Movements Between 12:33 and 1:15 P.M.

The Commission addressed the thesis that Oswald could not have reached 10th Street and Patton Avenue in time to encounter Tippit by 1:16 p.m. Reenactments confirmed Oswald could reach his roominghouse at 1026 North Beckley Avenue by approximately 1 p.m. or earlier, then walk the nine-tenths of a mile to the encounter location.

The Police Radio Suspect Description

The Commission found that no suspect description was broadcast over Dallas police radio before 12:45 p.m. on November 22, and Oswald was not named before his arrest. The initial description broadcast was similar to Oswald but lacked specific details like hair and eye color, most likely originating from witness Howard Brennan.