Kennedy Assassination History kennedy-assassination.co.uk
Site visits —

JFK assassination · permanent subject timeline

J. D. Tippit

Dallas police officer killed after the Kennedy assassination. This page combines historical context with 54 matching records drawn directly from the Kennedy Assassination History archive.

54 matching archive records 1963–1964 record span Open the full 1,932-record archive

Historical context

J. D. Tippit: overview and significance

What happened?

Dallas police officer J. D. Tippit was shot and killed in Oak Cliff shortly after President Kennedy was assassinated. Witness evidence and the subsequent police search connected Lee Harvey Oswald to Tippit's killing.

Why was it important?

The Tippit case formed an important part of the evidence used to reconstruct Oswald's movements after leaving the Texas School Book Depository. It also led directly into the search that culminated in Oswald's arrest at the Texas Theatre.

Archive records

J. D. Tippit timeline

The records below are selected from the 1,932-record JFK assassination archive and are rendered as static HTML in chronological order.

1963
1963 22nd November

Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Abraham Zapruder · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Abraham Zapruder films the assassination of Kennedy, sells the original film and the publishing rights to Life Magazine for $150,000, he donates $25,000 of the proceeds to the widow of slain Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit.

1963 22nd November

Assassination Suspect Description

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Tippit could hear the police-radio description of the assassination suspect, broadcast as a slender white male about 30 years old, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall.

1963 22nd November

Available for Emergency

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

After Tippit's 12:54 p.m. location report, the dispatcher instructed him to remain available for any emergency arising in central Oak Cliff.

1963 22nd November

Barbara Jeanette Davis Witness

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Barbara Jeanette Davis heard the gunfire and saw an armed man cross the lawn beside her residence while apparently emptying cartridge cases from his revolver.

1963 22nd November

Cartridge Case Recovery

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Witnesses recovered cartridge cases discarded near the Tippit crime scene and turned them over to Dallas police officers.

1963 22nd November

Central Oak Cliff Order

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At 12:45 p.m., the police dispatcher specifically ordered Tippit's unit to move into the central Oak Cliff area.

1963 22nd November

Discarded Jacket Evidence

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Police recovered a light-colored zipper jacket beneath a car near Jefferson Boulevard along the route attributed to the gunman fleeing Tippit's shooting.

1963 22nd November

Domingo Benavides Witness

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Domingo Benavides saw Tippit beside his patrol car, heard the shots, and watched the gunman discard cartridge cases while leaving the scene.

1963 22nd November

Downtown Emergency Broadcast

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At about 12:44 p.m., Dallas police radio ordered downtown patrol units to report to Elm and Houston under emergency conditions after President Kennedy was shot.

1963 22nd November

East Tenth Street Patrol

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At approximately 1:15 p.m., Tippit was driving slowly east along East 10th Street in Oak Cliff.

1963 22nd November

Exit from Patrol Car

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Tippit opened the driver's door and began walking around the front of his patrol car after speaking with the pedestrian.

1963 22nd November

Eyewitness Lineup Identifications

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Multiple witnesses to the shooting or the gunman's flight identified Oswald in Dallas police lineups conducted after his arrest.

1963 22nd November

Four Gunshot Wounds

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Four bullets struck Tippit during the shooting on East 10th Street, killing him at the scene.

1963 22nd November

Gunman Description Broadcast

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At approximately 1:22 p.m., Dallas police broadcast a description of the man wanted for Tippit's murder based on information from witnesses.

1963 22nd November

Helen Markham Witness

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Helen Markham witnessed the encounter between Tippit and the gunman, saw the officer fall after the shots, and ran to Tippit's side.

1963 22nd November

Jefferson Boulevard Flight

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Witness accounts placed the gunman moving westward along Jefferson Boulevard after leaving the area where Tippit had been shot.

1963 22nd November

Lancaster and Eighth Report

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At 12:54 p.m., Tippit radioed that he was in central Oak Cliff at Lancaster Road and Eighth Street.

1963 22nd November

Oswald Arrest Connection

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in the Texas Theatre shortly after police began searching the area for the man suspected of killing Tippit.

1963 22nd November

Oswald Charged with Tippit Murder

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At 7:10 p.m. on November 22, Dallas police formally advised Oswald that he had been charged with murdering Patrolman J. D. Tippit.

1963 22nd November

Passenger Window Conversation

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

The pedestrian approached the right side of Tippit's patrol car and apparently exchanged words with him through the front or vent window.

1963 22nd November

Patton Avenue Flight

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Witnesses saw the gunman leave the Tippit shooting scene and move south along Patton Avenue toward Jefferson Boulevard.

1963 22nd November

Pedestrian Stop

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

About 100 feet east of Patton Avenue, Tippit stopped beside a man walking east whose general appearance resembled the police-radio description.

1963 22nd November

Police Radio Death Report

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Benavides used Tippit's police radio to report the shooting to Dallas police headquarters at approximately 1:16 p.m.

1963 22nd November

Second Suspect Broadcast

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Dallas police repeated the assassination suspect description over the radio at 12:48 p.m. while Tippit was moving through Oak Cliff.

1963 22nd November

Shooting at Tenth Street

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

As Tippit reached the left front wheel of his patrol car, the gunman drew a revolver and fired several shots at him.

1963 22nd November

Ted Callaway Witness

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Used-car salesman Ted Callaway heard the shooting and saw the armed gunman pass nearby while fleeing toward Jefferson Boulevard.

1963 22nd November

Texas Theatre Search

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Police searching for Tippit's killer converged on the Texas Theatre after receiving information that a suspicious man had entered without buying a ticket.

1963 22nd November

Third Suspect Broadcast

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

The assassination suspect description was broadcast again at about 12:55 p.m. while Tippit remained on patrol in central Oak Cliff.

1963 22nd November

Tippit Killing Finding

Lee Harvey Oswald · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald shot and killed Dallas Patrolman J. D. Tippit at about 1:16 p.m. on November 22.

1963 22nd November

Tippit Murder Charge

Lee Harvey Oswald · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Dallas authorities charged Oswald with the murder of Patrolman J. D. Tippit on the evening of November 22, 1963.

1963 22nd November

Tippit Murder Complaint Signed

J. Will Fritz · Dallas Police Headquarters · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF · Captain, Homicide and Robbery Bureau

Fritz signed the complaint charging Oswald with the murder of Patrolman J. D. Tippit shortly before the 7:10 p.m. arraignment.

1963 22nd November

Tippit Revolver at Scene

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

When Benavides reached Tippit after the shooting, the officer was lying on his own revolver, which was out of its holster.

1963 22nd November

Tippit Shooting Information Received

James Patrick Hosty, Jr · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At about 1:30 p.m., Hosty received word that Officer J. D. Tippit had been killed and that a suspect was surrounded at a theater.

1963 22nd November

Virginia Davis Witness

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Virginia Davis heard the shots and saw the armed man cross the lawn near 10th and Patton while leaving the area.

1963 22nd November

William Scoggins Witness

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Taxi driver William Scoggins heard the shots, saw Tippit fall, and then observed the armed gunman pass close to his cab while fleeing.

1963 22nd November

Zapruder Film

Abraham Zapruder · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Zapbruder hands over a copy of his film to Forrest Sorrels of the Secret Service office in Dallas. Abraham Zapruder films the assassination of Kennedy, sells the original film and the publishing rights to Life Magazine for $150,000, he donates $25,000 of the proceeds to the widow of slain Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit.

1963 23rd November

Assassination of Jefferson Davis Tippit

Acquilla Clemons · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Acquilla Clemons lived on the north side of Tenth Street in Dallas, Clemons was sitting on the porch of her house when she saw Officer J. D. Tippit killed.

1963 23rd November

Assassination of Jefferson Davis Tippit

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

The record states that Oswald fired several shots at J. D. Tippit, striking him in the chest, then approached Tippit and fired another shot at his head.

1963 23rd November

Assassination of Jefferson Davis Tippit

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At 12:45 p.m., 15 minutes after the assassination, Tippit received an order by radio to proceed to the central Oak Cliff area as part of a concentration of patrol car activity around the centre of the city.

1963 23rd November

Assassination of Jefferson Davis Tippit

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

At 1:11-1:14 p.m.Tippit was driving slowly in an easterly direction on East 10th Street in Oak Cliff.

1963 23rd November

Assassination of Jefferson Davis Tippit

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Police officer with the Dallas, Texas Police Department who, according to witnesses and Government investigations including the Warren Commission, was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald after Tippit stopped Oswald following the Kennedy assassination.

1963 23rd November

Scoggins Lineup Identification

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

William Scoggins viewed a police lineup on November 23 and identified Oswald as the man he had seen near the Tippit shooting.

1963 November

Bullets Recovered from Tippit

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Four bullets were recovered from Tippit's body and examined by firearms specialists during the investigation.

1963 November

Firearms Cartridge Case Evidence

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Firearms examination established that cartridge cases recovered near the Tippit crime scene had been fired from the revolver in Oswald's possession when arrested.

1963 November

Five-Shot Possibility

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

The firearms evidence led the Warren Commission to conclude that five shots may have been fired even though four bullets were recovered from Tippit's body.

1963 November

Oak Cliff Patrol Assignment

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Patrolman J. D. Tippit was assigned to patrol district 78 in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas during the daylight shift.

1963 November

Oswald Revolver Evidence

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Investigators traced the revolver seized from Oswald at the Texas Theatre and established that it had been purchased by and belonged to him.

1963 November

Patrol Car Number 10

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Tippit patrolled alone in Dallas police car number 10, consistent with normal daytime assignments in residential districts.

1964
1964 July

Tippit Killing Investigation

Earl Warren · Washington · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Warren's commission reviewed eyewitness, firearms, police-radio, and physical evidence concerning the killing of Dallas Patrolman J. D. Tippit.

1964 September

No Oswald-Tippit Relationship

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Washington · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

The Warren Commission reported that it found no credible evidence that Oswald and Tippit knew each other before their encounter on November 22.

1964 September

No Ruby-Tippit Relationship

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Washington · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

The Warren Commission reported that it found no credible evidence that Jack Ruby and Tippit knew each other before the assassination.

1964 September

Warren Commission Tippit Finding

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Washington · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

After reviewing eyewitness and physical evidence, the Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald killed Dallas Patrolman J. D. Tippit.

1964 23rd November

Medal

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor from the National Police Hall of Fame and also received the Police Medal of Honor, the Police Cross, and the Citizens Traffic Commission Award of Heroism..

1964 23rd November

Zapruder Film

Jefferson Davis Tippit · Dallas · Politics · Assassination of Kennedy, JF

One of the largest individual gifts to the Tippit family is the $25,000 ($152,000 in 2006) that Abraham Zapruder donated after selling his film of the assassination..

Editorial provenance

Sources and editorial review

Compiled and edited by Kennedy Assassination History.

Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from the site's structured JFK assassination records.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

National Archives JFK Records · Warren Commission · JFK Library

Continue exploring

Related JFK assassination subjects