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B. The FBI Investigation Of The Assassination 1. The Department of Justice Response and FBI ertormance _@. The Mirder. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on ‘April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was standing on the balcony outside of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Termessee. Moments later, Dr. King was shot by a high power rifle and then rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital. At 7:05 p.m. he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was a bullet wound which tore the major neck blood vessels and severed the spinal cord at the root of the neck (Mamp!.ts 44-1987 Sub sec. 1-13, and see autopsy report, App. A Ex. 3). b. Top Priority Investigation Ordered. ‘The Memphis Police Department was immediately aware of the King assault and promptly notified the FBI Memphis Field Office headed by SAC Robert G. Jensen. SAC Jensen telephonically relayed the information to Washington where Director Hoover and Attorney General Clark were informed. The Memphis Field Office was directed on the evening of April 4, 1968 to immediately conduct a full investigation of the matter as a possible violatio of 18 U.S.C. 241, the civil rights conspiracy statute (HQ 44- 38861-109) . -47-