Morning
Fort Worth breakfast and departure
President Kennedy begins the day in Fort Worth before the presidential party departs for Dallas as part of the Texas political trip.
Chronology · Dallas · November 1963
JFK Assassination Timeline
Follow the events of 22 November 1963 from the presidential party's arrival in Dallas through Dealey Plaza, Parkland Hospital and Lee Harvey Oswald's arrest, followed by the immediate aftermath on 23–24 November.
Static historical timeline
22 November 1963: a detailed timeline of the JFK assassination
This chronology provides a crawlable overview of the principal events in Dallas before, during and immediately after the assassination. The searchable archive below contains the fuller record set, including people, places, evidence, investigations and later review.
11:40 a.m.
Arrival at Dallas Love Field
Air Force One lands at Love Field. President and Mrs Kennedy greet supporters before joining Governor John Connally and Nellie Connally in the presidential limousine.
c. 11:50
The Dallas motorcade begins
The motorcade leaves Love Field for downtown Dallas and the scheduled luncheon at the Trade Mart.
12:20s
Motorcade passes through central Dallas
Large crowds line the route as the presidential procession travels along Main Street toward Dealey Plaza.
c. 12:29
Turn from Main Street to Houston Street
The limousine turns right onto Houston Street, placing the Texas School Book Depository ahead on the northwest corner of Houston and Elm.
12:30 p.m.
Limousine turns onto Elm Street
The presidential car makes the left turn onto Elm Street and proceeds downhill through Dealey Plaza toward the triple underpass.
12:30 p.m.
Shots are fired in Dealey Plaza
President Kennedy and Governor Connally are struck by gunfire. Witnesses report differing impressions of the number and apparent direction of the shots.
Immediately
Motorcade accelerates toward Parkland
Secret Service agents respond as the presidential limousine and accompanying vehicles speed away from Dealey Plaza toward Parkland Memorial Hospital.
c. 12:36
President Kennedy reaches Parkland Hospital
Emergency staff begin intensive resuscitation in Trauma Room 1. Governor Connally is treated separately for his wounds.
1:00 p.m.
Kennedy pronounced dead
President John F. Kennedy is pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital after emergency treatment fails to restore effective circulation.
After 1:00
Search intensifies around the Depository
Police and investigators focus on the Texas School Book Depository and the surrounding Dealey Plaza area while evidence and witness accounts are gathered.
c. 1:15
Officer J. D. Tippit is shot
Dallas police officer J. D. Tippit is shot and killed in Oak Cliff during the search for a suspect.
Early afternoon
Lee Harvey Oswald enters the Texas Theatre
Police converge on the Texas Theatre after receiving information about a suspicious man who had entered without purchasing a ticket.
c. 1:50
Oswald arrested
Dallas police arrest Lee Harvey Oswald inside the Texas Theatre after a struggle.
Afternoon
Oswald questioned at police headquarters
Investigators question Oswald about the Tippit killing, his employment at the Depository, his movements and other matters connected with the assassination investigation.
2:38 p.m.
Lyndon B. Johnson takes the presidential oath
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as President aboard Air Force One at Love Field before the aircraft returns to Washington.
Evening
Oswald becomes the central suspect
Police continue questioning and evidence review as Oswald becomes the principal suspect in both the Kennedy assassination and Tippit killing.
Late evening
Formal charges begin
Dallas authorities move toward formal charges while the investigation expands across local and federal agencies.
Immediate aftermath
23–24 November 1963
The investigation continued while Lee Harvey Oswald remained in custody, ending with his shooting by Jack Ruby during a police transfer.
22–23 Nov
Oswald questioned
Dallas investigators question Oswald about the assassination, the Tippit shooting, his movements and his background.
23 Nov
Charges and evidence develop
Investigators continue assembling witness statements, firearms evidence and documentary material while Oswald remains in custody.
24 Nov · morning
Transfer planned
Dallas police prepare to move Oswald from city custody to the county jail while news organisations gather at police headquarters.
24 Nov · 11:21 a.m.
Jack Ruby shoots Oswald
Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shoots Oswald in the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters during the prisoner transfer.
24 Nov
Oswald dies at Parkland
Oswald is taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital and dies, eliminating the possibility of a normal criminal trial on the assassination charge.