Lee Harvey Oswald’s life and alleged role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been dissected endlessly, yet the official narrative remains deeply contested. One of the earliest doubts arises from the rifle purportedly used in the crime—the Mannlicher-Carcano found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Experts have questioned whether this cumbersome, bolt-action weapon could have been fired three times in under six seconds with deadly accuracy at a moving target. Photographic evidence also raises suspicions, as the rifle Oswald is seen holding in backyard photos appears inconsistent with the Carcano, with some alleging the images were doctored. Furthermore, Oswald’s fingerprints were not found on the weapon until days later, under questionable circumstances, casting doubt on the chain of custody and suggesting possible evidence tampering.

The shooting position itself fuels skepticism. Oswald was said to have fired from the sixth-floor southeast corner window, but forensic reconstructions and witness testimonies indicate this vantage point was obstructed by trees and signage, making accurate shots unlikely. Many eyewitnesses reported hearing shots from the grassy knoll area, a location inconsistent with Oswald’s alleged position. The crowd’s immediate rush toward the knoll rather than the Book Depository further supports the theory of multiple shooters or a different source of the gunfire.

Complications deepen with the murder of Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit, for which Oswald was arrested. The timeline surrounding Tippit’s shooting is fraught with contradictions: some witnesses saw a man not matching Oswald’s description speaking with Tippit shortly before the shooting, while others claimed Oswald was already at the Texas Theatre at the time. Additionally, ballistics evidence and reports about the number of shooters remain inconsistent. These discrepancies suggest that the Tippit murder may have been manipulated to justify Oswald’s arrest and link him to the Kennedy assassination.

Modern analyses, such as voice stress tests applied to Oswald’s recorded statements, reveal no typical signs of deception, implying that he may have genuinely believed his repeated claims of innocence. Psychologists and profilers note Oswald’s calm demeanor and steadfast denial under intense interrogation—behaviors atypical for a guilty suspect—further fueling doubts about his involvement.

The question of motive also remains murky. Oswald’s political beliefs were inconsistent, with sympathies shifting between far-left and far-right ideologies. His supposed support for Castro-era Cuba conflicts with Kennedy’s secret negotiations toward normalization, undermining the theory that Oswald killed Kennedy out of ideological hatred. No direct ties to extremist groups or intelligence agencies ordering the assassination have been proven, though his mysterious interactions with various figures raise the possibility he was used as a scapegoat.

Eyewitness accounts and testimonies present a fragmented picture. Numerous witnesses reported hearing multiple shots from different directions, seeing suspicious individuals near the grassy knoll, and noticing unusual behavior by law enforcement officers. The Warren Commission largely dismissed these accounts, but later investigations acknowledged the likelihood of conspiracy, lending credence to alternative theories.

Finally, Oswald’s own behavior in custody—his repeated claim “I’m just a patsy,” his cooperation with authorities, and his lack of flight or destruction of evidence—contradict the profile of a cold-blooded assassin. His murder by Jack Ruby before trial denied the public a full legal examination of the facts, leaving many questions unanswered and suspicions unresolved.

Taken together, these seven points expose significant cracks in the official story and fuel ongoing debates about Oswald’s true role. Was he an innocent pawn caught in a web of political intrigue, or was the truth even more complex than the public has been told? The legacy of that fateful day remains shrouded in mystery, inviting each of us to weigh the evidence and consider the possibilities.