Jack Ruby, American businessman and murderer (b. 1911)

Jack Leon Ruby, originally named Jacob Leon Rubenstein, was an American nightclub proprietor born on April 25, 1911, who achieved a grim notoriety through an act of violence that profoundly impacted one of the most significant events in American history. His life, which concluded on January 3, 1967, became inextricably linked to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The Dallas Shooting: Lee Harvey Oswald's Murder

Ruby's defining act occurred on November 24, 1963, a mere two days after the shocking assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. At approximately 11:21 AM Central Standard Time, Jack Ruby fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald, the prime suspect in the Kennedy assassination, while Oswald was being transferred from the Dallas Police Headquarters to the county jail. This unprecedented event unfolded live on national television, captivating a stunned nation and the world. Oswald, who had been charged with both the murder of President Kennedy and the earlier killing of Dallas Police Officer J. D. Tippit, was in police custody when Ruby, emerging from a crowd of reporters and police officers in the basement garage, fired a single shot from a .38 caliber Colt Cobra revolver into Oswald's abdomen. Oswald died shortly thereafter at Parkland Memorial Hospital, the same hospital where President Kennedy had been pronounced dead.

Trial, Conviction, and Appeal

Immediately following the shooting, Jack Ruby was arrested at the scene. He was subsequently charged with murder with malice. On March 14, 1964, a Dallas jury found Ruby guilty of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald and sentenced him to death in the electric chair. This swift verdict was later challenged. Ruby's conviction was appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which, on October 5, 1966, overturned the conviction. The court cited two primary reasons for granting Ruby a new trial: the improper admission of testimony from a psychiatrist regarding Ruby's mental state, and the belief that Ruby could not have received a fair trial in Dallas due to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and the assassination of President Kennedy.

Ruby's Illness and Death in Prison

As the legal preparations for his new trial were underway, Jack Ruby's health rapidly deteriorated. While incarcerated, he was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 1966. His condition worsened quickly, and he died in Parkland Memorial Hospital on January 3, 1967, at the age of 55. The official cause of death was a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of an artery in the lungs, which was a complication of his advanced lung cancer. This meant that the planned retrial never took place, leaving many questions about his motives unanswered in a court of law.

Investigations and Enduring Conspiracy Theories

The death of Lee Harvey Oswald at the hands of Jack Ruby fueled intense speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy. The Warren Commission, officially known as The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, was established by President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the events of November 1963. In its comprehensive report, released in September 1964, the Warren Commission concluded that Jack Ruby acted alone in killing Oswald and found no evidence linking Ruby to any broader conspiracy, including those involving organized crime figures or governmental entities. However, this conclusion has been persistently challenged by various groups and researchers over the decades. Many conspiracy theories posit that Ruby was deeply connected to major figures in organized crime, particularly the Mafia, and that his act of killing Oswald was not spontaneous but rather a deliberate silencing operation. Proponents of these theories suggest Ruby was either coerced or hired to prevent Oswald from revealing potential co-conspirators or deeper truths about the Kennedy assassination. While official investigations, including the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) in the late 1970s, acknowledged the possibility of a conspiracy in the Kennedy assassination, they largely maintained that Oswald acted alone in shooting Kennedy, and did not definitively conclude that Ruby's actions were part of a larger conspiracy, despite noting his organized crime ties. The circumstances surrounding Ruby's actions and his sudden death continue to be a subject of intense debate and historical inquiry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jack Ruby

Who was Jack Ruby?
Jack Leon Ruby, born Jacob Leon Rubenstein, was an American nightclub owner in Dallas, Texas, best known for fatally shooting Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy.
When and where did Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald?
Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963, at approximately 11:21 AM CST, in the basement garage of the Dallas Police Headquarters, while Oswald was being transferred to the county jail. The event was broadcast live on national television.
What was Jack Ruby's motive for killing Oswald according to official investigations?
The Warren Commission concluded that Ruby acted alone and was motivated by a desire to spare Jacqueline Kennedy the ordeal of having to return to Dallas to testify at Oswald's trial. Other unofficial theories suggest a more complex motive, potentially tied to organized crime or a larger conspiracy.
Was Jack Ruby connected to organized crime?
While the Warren Commission stated Ruby acted alone, it did acknowledge his casual associations with figures who had ties to organized crime. Various conspiracy theories, however, assert a more direct and significant involvement, suggesting he was an integral part of a plot to silence Oswald.
How did Jack Ruby die?
Jack Ruby died on January 3, 1967, at Parkland Memorial Hospital from a pulmonary embolism resulting from advanced lung cancer, while awaiting a new trial for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald.