Dallas is a city with a rich and complex history, having witnessed many remarkable events over the years. One of the most significant was the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, which took place in November 1963 right here in our city. The tragedy shook not only the United States but the entire world. Today, we’ll focus on how Lee Harvey Oswald — the man accused of the assassination — was captured. Read more about it on dallas-yes.com.
The Moment of Arrest
November 22, 1963 — a date forever etched in the history of Dallas and the United States. At 12:30 p.m. local time, President John F. Kennedy was riding in an open-top motorcade through downtown Dallas with his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Texas Governor John Connally. As the motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza, three shots were fired at the president and the governor. Kennedy succumbed to his injuries within 30 minutes.
Just a few hours later, police apprehended the suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, inside the Texas Theatre in Dallas. Before his arrest, Oswald shot and killed a police officer, then fled the scene. He ran toward the theater and tried to enter without buying a ticket — behavior that caught the attention of theater staff. The cashier, noticing his suspicious actions, alerted the manager, who quickly called the police. At approximately 2:20 p.m., officers arrived at the scene and arrested Oswald inside the theater after a brief struggle. At the time of his arrest, the film War Is Hell was being shown on screen.
The arrest was captured on camera and has since become one of the most famous moments in American criminal history. On the spot, Oswald refused to speak to police. Later, he was officially charged with the murders of President Kennedy and a Dallas police officer.
Today, the Texas Theatre is considered a historic landmark. It houses several artifacts related to that dramatic day — including the very seat where Oswald sat before being arrested. The theater itself was restored in the 2000s, preserving the authentic atmosphere of the 1960s.
What We Know About Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939 in New Orleans. He grew up without a father, as his father died before his birth. As a teenager, Oswald joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he received sniper training.
Oswald was a supporter of communist ideology, and in 1959 he defected to the Soviet Union, where he worked at a radio factory in Minsk. However, after three years in the USSR, he became disillusioned with life there and decided to return to the United States in 1962, bringing his Russian wife, Marina, with him. Back in America, he became involved in political activism, including protests against the Cuban regime of Fidel Castro. Just a year later, he was arrested as the prime suspect in the assassination of President Kennedy.
Two days after the assassination, on November 24, while being transferred from the city jail, Oswald was fatally shot by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner. The official investigation later concluded that Oswald had acted alone and was not part of a broader conspiracy.
The assassination of the President of the United States in Dallas remains one of the most shocking political events in American history. The city will forever be remembered for this tragic day. Yet it’s also important to recognize that Dallas police acted swiftly and effectively, apprehending the suspect within hours and ensuring the safety of the city’s residents.
Such were the dramatic events that unfolded in Dallas during the 1960s. We hope this article helped you learn more about our city’s history and its role in one of the defining moments of the 20th century.