The Factual Answer: Entry and Exit Wounds
In the official medical and investigatory records, the bullet that struck President John F. Kennedy near the back of the neck exited from the front of the throat. The entry wound was in the posterior neck along the right side of the spine; the exit wound was in the anterior neck at the front of the throat. This trajectory is documented in the autopsy reports, photographs, and testimony collected by the Warren Commission and reviewed in subsequent reinvestigations.
Why This Question Matters
Understanding where the bullet hit JFK is central to reconstructing the sequence of events in Dealey Plaza and evaluating theories about shooter location and number. The wounds observed by physicians at Parkland Hospital, the path shown in radiographs and photographs from the autopsy, and the ballistic evidence all converge on a single, consistent trajectory. This article explains the verified findings without speculation, focusing on documented evidence that remains relevant for analysis of the assassination.
Key Evidence and Autopsy Findings
During the autopsy conducted at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, pathologists located the entry wound in the upper posterior neck to the right of the midline and the exit wound in the lower anterior neck. The trajectory was consistent with a bullet that entered from the rear, passed through the neck, and struck the anterior neck before exiting. While the original autopsy photographs and X-rays have been subject to varied interpretations, the written descriptions and the official diagrams consistently indicate this path. Subsequent reinvestigations, including the House Select Committee on Assassinations review, reaffirmed the basic trajectory while noting limitations in the original documentation.
Hospital Observations and Physician Accounts
At Parkland Hospital, treating physicians initially noted an entry wound in the front of the neck when they encountered a pronounced tracheotomy scar from prior surgery; later findings clarified that the bullet exited there. Because the back wound was small and not immediately recognized, early accounts sometimes emphasized only the visible throat injury. A careful review of medical notes, staff interviews, and photographs clarifies that both wounds were part of the same missile path. These contemporaneous clinical observations help anchor the trajectory description in real-time medical assessment rather than in later analysis alone.
Ballistic Analysis and Bullet Recovery
The bullet recovered from a stretcher in Parkland’s trauma room, often referred to as the “magic bullet,” was identified by multiple physicians as having passed through both the president and Governor John Connally. Experts later confirmed that this copper jacketed, lead-core projectile was consistent with the ammunition in the presidential limousine and matched the rifling characteristics of the weapon linked to the case. Its condition and the measured dimensions of the wounds supported a single-bullet trajectory consistent with the entry in the back and exit in the throat. While debates continue about nuances of speed and exact alignment, the physical evidence of the bullet’s path aligns with the described wound locations.
Consensus View and Contested Elements
Majority and official assessments converge on a rear-to-front path through the neck, generally from the upper back toward the front throat. The Warren Commission concluded the bullet, termed Commission Exhibit 399, entered above the sixth cervical vertebra and exited the front of the neck, causing severe damage. Disagreements persist regarding the exact angle of entry, timing of wound discovery, and interpretation of photographs, but the core fact—that the bullet entered the back and exited the front—remains supported by multiple lines of evidence. These include autopsy diagrams, radiographs, physician testimony, and the recovered bullet itself, all reviewed across official and independent examinations.
Summary of Verified Details
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Wound Location | Posterior neck, right side of the spine | Autopsy report and diagrams |
| Exit Wound Location | Anterior neck, front of the throat | Autopsy report and physicians’ notes |
| Trajectory | Rear to front, consistent with a single bullet | Ballistic analysis and medical consensus |
| Recovered Bullet | Commission Exhibit 399, matched to limousine ammunition | Ballistic examination and chain of custody |
| Key Clinical Observation | Initial notes emphasized visible throat injury; later clarified both wounds | Parkland Hospital records and staff interviews |
How This Fits into Broader Understanding
Where the bullet hit JFK is one element of a larger forensic picture that includes the number of shooters, timing relative to Zapruder frames, and the physical capabilities of the reported weapon. The entry and exit wounds constrain the possible angles and positions, informing whether shots could have originated from the Texas School Book Depository or other locations. By anchoring the description in verified medical and ballistic evidence, it becomes possible to compare hypotheses against an established baseline of wound locations and projectile paths rather than against isolated observations or reconstructed simulations.