Claim: Lee Harvey Oswald shot president Kennedy in Dealey Plaza.

John F. Kennedy , the 35th President of the United States , was assassinated on Friday , November 22 , 1963 at 12:30 p.m Central Standard Time in Dallas , Texas while riding in a motorcade in Dealey Plaza . Kennedy was fatally shot by Lee Harvey Oswald while he was riding with his wife , Jacqueline , Texas Governor John Connally , and Connally 's wife , Nellie , in a presidential motorcade . A ten-month investigation by the Warren Commission from November 1963 to September 1964 concluded that Oswald acted alone in shooting Kennedy , and that Jack Ruby also acted alone when he killed Oswald before he could stand trial . Kennedy 's death marked the fourth -LRB- following Lincoln , Garfield , and McKinley -RRB- and most recent assassination of an American President . Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became President upon Kennedy 's death .   In contrast to the conclusions of the Warren Commission , the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations -LRB- HSCA -RRB- concluded in 1979 that Kennedy was `` probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy '' . The HSCA agreed with the Warren Commission that the injuries sustained by Kennedy and Connally were caused by Oswald 's three rifle shots , but they also determined the existence of an additional gunshot based on analysis of an audio recording and therefore '' ... a high probability that two gunmen fired at -LSB- the -RSB- President . '' The Committee was not able to identify any individuals or groups involved with the possible conspiracy . In addition , the HSCA found that the original federal investigations were `` seriously flawed '' with respect to information-sharing and the possibility of conspiracy . As recommended by the HSCA , the acoustic evidence indicating conspiracy was subsequently re-examined and rejected .   In light of the investigative reports determining that `` reliable acoustic data do not support a conclusion that there was a second gunman , '' the Justice Department has concluded active investigations , stating `` that no persuasive evidence can be identified to support the theory of a conspiracy in ... the assassination of President Kennedy . '' However , Kennedy 's assassination is still the subject of widespread debate and has spawned numerous conspiracy theories and alternative scenarios . Polling in 2013 showed that 60 % of Americans believe that a group of conspirators was responsible for the assassination . As of 2017 , Kennedy is the most recent president to die in office .