Where Martin Luther King Jr. Died: Verified Account
Martin Luther King Jr. died at the Lorraine Mot in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 19 Room 306, the balcony outside his second-story room, is the confirmed location where he was fatally shot.
Key Details of the Event
On Thursday, April 4, 1968, around 6:01 p.m. Central Time, Martin Luther King Jr. was standing on the balcony of Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel when a single rifle shot struck him in the lower right side of his face. He was pronounced dead at St. Joseph’s Hospital at 7:05 p.m. The shooting triggered national mourning and civil unrest in more than 100 U.S. cities.
Confirmed Timeline
| Date | Time (Central) | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 4, 1968 | 6:01 p.m. | Shot fired | On the Lorraine Motel balcony |
| April 4, 1968 | 7:05 p.m. | Pronounced dead | At St. Joseph’s Hospital |
Location Context: The Lorraine Motel
The Lorraine Motel, owned by Walter and Loree Bailey, was a modest, four-story motor lodge at 450 Mulberry Street in Memphis. In 1991, it became the National Civil Rights Museum, preserving Room 306 and the balcony as memorials. The site remains an internationally recognized place of pilgrimage for those honoring King’s legacy.
Immediate Aftermath and Legacy Impact
News of King’s assassination sparked grief and protests across the nation. James Earl Ray was arrested over two months later at London’s Heathrow Airport and later pleaded guilty in 1969, though he soon recanted. Investigations by state, federal, and local authorities have consistently upheld the details of the Lorraine Motel shooting as factual and well documented.
Public Commemoration and Historical Record
Since 1991, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel has maintained exhibits that include Room 306, the balcony, and related evidence from 1968. Annual commemorations, scholarly research, and preserved evidence continue to reinforce the location and circumstances of King’s death as historically verified and widely acknowledged.
Summary of Verified Facts
- Location: Lorraine Motel, 450 Mulberry Street, Memphis, Tennessee
- Room: 306 (second-floor balcony)
- Date: April 4, 1968
- Time of shooting: Approximately 6:01 p.m. Central Time
- Time of death: 7:05 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hospital
- Site today: National Civil Rights Museum
Conclusion
Martin Luther King Jr. died at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The historical record, supported by law enforcement reports, hospital records, museum archives, and extensive eyewitness accounts, confirms the motel’s Room 306 and its balcony as the place where he was fatally shot on April 4, 1968.