Jack Ruby

Jacob Leon Rubenstein, who in December 1947 changed his name and was known as Jack Leon Ruby (March 25?, 1911 - January 3, 1967), a Dallas nightclub owner, shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963, two days after Oswald was arrested for the assassination of President Kennedy.

Public Assassination

Ruby (a.k.a. "Sparky", reportedly because of his short temper) often carried a handgun and witnesses saw him with a handgun in the halls of the Dallas police headquarters on several occasions after November 22, 1963. In addition, it is known for certain that Jack Ruby impersonated a newspaper reporter and was at the police station on the night of November 22, though the reason he did this is unknown. The publicity-obsessed Ruby suddenly came to international attention when he shot and fatally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963 at 11:21 AM CST while Oswald was being transferred via car to a nearby jail.

Related Topics:
Handgun - November 22 - 1963 - Reporter - Lee Harvey Oswald - November 24

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Ruby later claimed he shot Oswald on the spur of the moment when the opportunity presented itself, even though, when Ruby was first arrested, he stated to several witnesses that his killing of Oswald would show the world that "Jews have guts", that he helped the city of Dallas "redeem" itself in the eyes of the public, and Oswald's death would spare Jacqueline Kennedy the ordeal of appearing at Oswald's court trial. Millions of viewers saw the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald on live television. It was the first time in television history that a homicide was broadcast live and in reaction, the public had initially been overwhelmingly in support of Ruby's deed. The weapon used by Ruby was a snub-nosed Colt Cobra .38 with the serial number 2744 LW.

Related Topics:
Jacqueline Kennedy - Colt Cobra .38

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The route that Ruby took to get down into the basement of the Dallas police headquarters and jail has been disputed. Some routes would have suggested that Ruby had to have had help from authorities inside the building, though plenty of journalists entered the building that day without having their credentials properly checked. Ruby stated he entered the jail that day via the entrance ramp and a former policeman, Napoleon Daniels, stated he saw Ruby use the ramp. Others dispute this claim, arguing that Ruby had in truth entered the basement from inside police headquarters itself. One friend of Ruby had commented, revealingly, "He (Ruby) practically lived at the (police) station, and they (the police) lived at his place" (nightclub).

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