It happened at 12:50 a.m. PDT, in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He was shot 3 times, 5 other people were wounded. He had just delivered a speech in which he celebrated winning the California presidential primary. He was 42 years old.

He was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian, with a .22 Revolver. Sirhan's motives have always been unclear, but conspiracy watchers say he could have been part of a wider conspiracy to stop Kennedy who was intent on stopping the Vietnam War.

Sirhan Sirhan was sentenced to die, but California suspended the death penalty. He has been in jail since, denied parole as a threat to public safety.