Over 10,000 pages of newly unsealed FBI documents have revealed alarming details surrounding the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Among the revelations: a man who had made threats against the Kennedy family came dangerously close to reaching the aircraft carrying Kennedy’s body.
Initial reports suggested the suspect was just 100 yards from the plane. However, it was later confirmed that he was arrested at a nearby bar, according to the New York Post, citing the FBI’s declassified files.
Threats Against the Kennedy Family
The suspect was identified as William Frederick Crosson. According to an FBI report dated June 6, 1968, Crosson made verbal threats at the airport and the bar where he was later detained. His threats were directed at the Kennedy family, the Secret Service, and the FBI.
He was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department before he could get any closer to the secure area.
Robert F. Kennedy’s Assassination: A Quick Recap
Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, shortly after delivering a victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He had just won the California Democratic presidential primary. Kennedy died in the early hours of June 6 from his injuries.
The shooter, Sirhan Sirhan, was 24 at the time. He was convicted of first-degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence. Now 81, Sirhan has spent over 50 years in prison.
Inside the Mind of Sirhan Sirhan: Notes Reveal Obsession
The declassified documents include handwritten notes discovered in Sirhan’s Pasadena home. These writings revealed his obsession with assassinating Kennedy.
One note dated May 18, 1968, stated:
“My determination to remove RFK is becoming more and more of an unshakable obsession. RFK must be disposed of like his brother was.”
This chilling message referred to President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.
Sirhan’s writings also included threats against Arthur Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. A disturbing note read:
“Ambassador Goldberg must die die die. Goldberg will be illiminated [sic].”
Goldberg had played a key role in shaping UN Resolution 242, which addressed the Arab-Israeli conflict. He resigned just weeks after RFK’s assassination.
Among the other notes, Sirhan had written:
“Sirhan is an ARAB,” reinforcing his deep-rooted political motives.
Tourists Heard Rumors of RFK’s Death Before It Happened
One of the most bizarre findings in the files involved a tour group visiting Israel in May 1968—one month before RFK’s assassination. According to FBI interviews, several travelers claimed they had heard rumors that Kennedy had been or would be shot.
One tourist recalled being told about an attempted shooting in Milwaukee. Another mentioned hearing he had been shot in Nebraska.
These unsettling claims prompted the FBI to quickly track down and question all members of the tour group after the assassination, fearing a larger conspiracy or prior knowledge of the attack.
Final Thoughts
The newly revealed RFK assassination documents provide a haunting look into the chaos, threats, and panic that followed one of America’s most tragic political killings. From a near-breach of security to handwritten threats and eerie premonitions abroad, these records deepen the public’s understanding of the days surrounding Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination—and the intense nationwide response that followed.
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