When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, the news reverberated around the globe. Oswald’s whereabouts in the hours after the assassination — the man accused of having shot the president had a series of comings and goings — would come to provide some of the best evidence for the investigation. Here’s a timeline of Oswald’s actions in between the time he shot Kennedy until he was captured.
At around 12:30 PM, President Kennedy’s motorcade was moving through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. Oswald shot three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building, hitting Kennedy in the neck and head, which ultimately proved fatal. The president was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:00 PM.
After the assassination, Oswald remained in the book depository, and employees in the building did not immediately suspect him. He had managed to carry out the shooting and then went about his day in a calm manner, avoiding suspicion.
### 2. **Exiting the Texas School Book Depository (12:33 PM)**
After the assassination, Oswald calmly left his post at the Texas School Book Depository. He exited the building through a back door, where he encountered a fellow employee, Bonnie Ray Williams, who later reported seeing Oswald walking toward the stairs. Oswald took a bus out of the area but realized it was not going to the right direction. He then left the bus and took a taxi to his apartment.
### 3. **Returning to His Apartment (12:50 PM)**
Around 12:50 PM, Oswald arrived at his apartment at 1026 North Beckley Avenue in Dallas. This was the location where he had been staying for some time. Upon entering his apartment, Oswald changed his clothes, likely to avoid being identified in the same outfit he wore during the assassination. At the time, Oswald was aware of the rising tension and suspicion surrounding him.
### 4. **The Murder of Officer J.D. Tippit (1:15 PM)**
Approximately 45 minutes after the assassination, Oswald encountered Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit in the Oak Cliff neighborhood. Tippit had been given a description of Oswald and was attempting to stop him. Oswald, in an attempt to evade capture, shot Officer Tippit four times at close range, killing him instantly. Witnesses identified Oswald as the shooter, and the police immediately began a manhunt in the surrounding areas.
### 5. **Seeking Refuge in the Texas Theatre (1:45 PM)**
After killing Tippit, Oswald fled on foot and eventually made his way to the Texas Theatre, located on West Jefferson Boulevard in Dallas. He entered the theater without paying for a ticket, arousing suspicion from the staff, who alerted the police. Oswald, likely knowing the authorities were closing in, sat in the back of the theater to avoid drawing attention.
### 6. **Oswald’s Capture (1:50 PM)**
The police arrived at the Texas Theatre at approximately 1:50 PM after receiving reports of a suspicious individual. They searched the theater and found Oswald in the balcony. When confronted, Oswald was arrested without resistance. He was charged with the murders of both President Kennedy and Officer Tippit. As he was taken into custody, Oswald reportedly shouted, “I’m not resisting arrest,” and was quickly escorted to the Dallas police station.
### Conclusion
Lee Harvey Oswald’s movements after the assassination of President Kennedy were brief but crucial. Within two hours, Oswald had shot and killed a police officer, sought refuge in a theater, and was arrested. His actions during this time provided investigators with significant evidence, though many questions remained about his motives and the details surrounding his involvement in the tragic event. Oswald's capture set the stage for his trial, but before he could be tried, he was murdered while in police custody. His movements remain a central part of the mystery that still surrounds the assassination of JFK.