The Warren Committee and House Select Committee on Assassinations findings concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the person behind the killing of 1963 Officer J.D. Tippit on the same day as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Their conclusions are mostly based on eyewitness accounts. Read our article to see why these testimonies are dubious.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these eyewitnesses.
Domingo Benavides
Domingo Benavides was the closest witness to the assassination of Officer Tippit. He was driving on E. 10th Street when he heard three gunshots nearby. He didn't witness the shooting itself but saw the shooter walking away.
It’s worth noting that Benavides couldn't identify the shooter because he only caught his back as he ran away. He checked on Tippit, who was deceased by that time, and retrieved two shell casings left by the fleeing gunman.
Lastly, he noted the suspect's squared-off haircut, which didn't match Lee Harvey Oswald's tapered haircut. The only thing that matched was the “Eisenhower” jacket, but that’s circumstantial at best.
Helen Markham
Helen Markham was a key witness in the Tippit case. She claimed to have seen the shooting, but contradictions marred her testimony. While Markham described an encounter where a man shot Officer Tippit, her version conflicted with other witnesses.
Below are some of these contradictions:
- She was the only one to see the killer walking east, while others saw the killer walking west along 10th Street.
- Markham claimed the killer leaned into Tippit's open passenger window, but only the vent window was cracked open.
- She also stated that she spent 20 minutes alone with the dying officer, which contradicted Benavides’ testimony suggesting Tippit died quickly.
Assistant Warren Counsel Wesley Libeler called Markham’s testimony "contradictory and worthless," and others doubted her identification of Oswald.
William Scoggins
Cab driver William Scoggins witnessed the assassination of Officer Tippit from his parked vehicle at 10th & Patton. While eating his lunch, he saw Tippit's patrol car stop, and a young pedestrian approached it. However, Scoggins’ view of the killer was blocked due to hedges.
When gunshots rang out, he saw a young man with a gun walk past his cab, and Scoggins took cover behind it.
At a police lineup, Scoggins identified Lee Harvey Oswald as the man he saw crossing the lawn.
By November 23rd, most Dallas residents were aware of Oswald's alleged involvement. During the lineup, Oswald was the only one who provided his correct name and stated he worked at the Texas School Book Depository.
To make matters worse, Scoggins later admitted he couldn't identify Oswald in a separate photo lineup, saying he was told he picked the wrong man.
Discover More Contradictory Testimonies at Kennedys and King
There are enough contradictory testimonies in this event and the one preceding it, i.e., the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Explore our website for a thorough analysis of dubious accounts and evidence that leaves enough room to believe Lee Harvey Oswald was but a scapegoat, a patsy in the JFK assassination.
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