James M. Chaney
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| James M. Chaney | |
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James M. Chaney in a photo at the time President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
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| Born | March 8, 1921 Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Died | April 10, 1976 San Francisco, California, USA |
James M. Chaney (March 8, 1921 – April 10, 1976) was a witness and Dallas police motorcycle presidential escort riding only ten to fifteen feet away from (slightly behind and to the right of) President John F. Kennedy during his assassination on November 22, 1963 within Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas.
[edit] JFK's Assassination
In a November 22, 1963 interview with reporter Bill Lord recorded by Dallas ABC TV, Chaney stated he remembered hearing three shots. Chaney said when he heard the first shot he remembered that it sounded like a motorcycle backfiring and Chaney immediately looked to his left and saw President Kennedy had "looked back over his left shoulder" within the limousine. In the famous Ike Altgens photo taken concurrent with Zapruder film frame 255, Chaney is seen very close to the limousine facing President Kennedy. Chaney further stated that "the second shot hit him in the face," and that a third shot was fired that Chaney did not see hit the president but he did see Governor John B. Connally's shirt erupt in blood. Chaney stated that the shots he remembered hearing seemed to come from "back over my right shoulder." During the assassination his police uniform was spattered with blood and President Kennedy's head matter.
On November 23, 1963 Chaney was stationed on duty within Dealey Plaza and spoke with nightclub owner and alleged organized crime member Jack Ruby when Ruby stopped by the plaza to see the memorial wreaths, flowers, and messages placed there by mourners.
James Chaney, the closest non-limousine witness to the president during the assassination, was never called by the Warren Commission to testify.
[edit] Death
Chaney died a relatively young man in April, 1976 from a heart attack during the House Select Committee on Assassinations investigation into the assassination.
