Single-bullet theory - Wikipedia
The
single-bullet theory (or
magic-bullet theory, as it is commonly called by its critics) was introduced by the
Warren Commission in its investigation of the
assassination of President John F. Kennedy to explain what happened to the
bullet that struck Kennedy in the back and exited through his throat
The theory says that a three-centimeter (1.2″)-long copper-jacketed lead-core
6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano rifle bullet fired from the sixth floor of the
Texas School Book Depository passed through President Kennedy's neck and went into Governor Connally's chest, went through his wrist, and embedded itself in the Governor's thigh. If so, this bullet traversed 15 layers of clothing, 7 layers of skin, and approximately 15 inches of muscle tissue, struck a necktie knot, removed 4 inches of rib, and shattered a radius bone. The bullet was found on a
gurney in the corridor at
Parkland Memorial Hospital after the assassination. The Warren Commission found that this gurney was the one that had borne Governor Connally.
[4] This bullet became a key exhibit for the Commission. Its copper jacket was completely intact. While the bullet's nose appeared normal, the tail was compressed laterally on one side.