JFK GeoTour
#6 Dealey Plaza
400 Main St, Dallas, TX 75202
Entering Dealey Plaza in the open Presidential limousine, Nellie Connally, wife of the Texas Governor, turned to President Kennedy and told him, “Mr. President, you can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you.” Within seconds of turning onto Elm Street, the mood abruptly changed as they were under attack within seconds. The first bullet that hit any of the occupants in the Presidential limousine struck the President in the upper back and neck, striking his spine and the top of his right lung. The bullet exited his throat, grazing the knot in his tie. He can clearly be seen raising his elbows, clenching his fists, and leaning forward and to the left in response to this shot. The same bullet is the only one that injured Texas Governor John Connally, who was sitting in the middle jump seat just in front of the President. The bullet entered under his right armpit and destroyed a rib and created a sucking chest wound, which is a serious life-threatening injury that requires urgent care. After exiting through the front of his chest, the bullet shattered one of the two bones in his right forearm before lodging in his right thigh. Connally shouted out, “my God, they’re going to kill us all!” The very next shot was the fatal head shot to President Kennedy. The gruesomeness from the final shot left little doubt to anyone close to the event as to the outcome for the President.
The limousine quickly departed the scene heading straight for Parkland. The President’s final wound was fatal and beyond the scope of any medical aid. Governor Connally, however, was in urgent need of first aid for his chest wound, and further evaluation and care for his other injuries.
Back inside the Texas School Book Depository, Oswald quickly hid his rifle down the hall from his 6th floor perch and headed down towards the exits. He was met on the 2nd floor in the break room by an armed police officer. Roy Truly, Oswald’s supervisor, identified him as an employee, and the officers moved on, continuing their search of the building. Later Truly reported him missing to the police, which helped to quickly locate and arrest Oswald.