James Earl Ray (1928-1998) was an American criminal who became infamously known for assassinating civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Born in Alton, Illinois, Ray dropped out of high school and embarked on a life of crime. He was involved in various illegal activities, including burglary, armed robbery, and prison escapes.
Ray's notoriety stems from his sniper attack on Dr. King, which took place in Memphis, Tennessee. Using a Remington rifle, Ray shot and killed King as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. Immediately after the assassination, Ray managed to escape, sparking one of the largest manhunts in American history. He was eventually apprehended in London, following a two-month international pursuit.
Following his capture, Ray pled guilty to the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. However, he later recanted his confession and claimed he was merely a scapegoat in a vast conspiracy. Despite several attempts to obtain a new trial, Ray was unsuccessful, and he spent the remainder of his life behind bars, dying of complications from liver disease in 1998.
James Earl Ray's name has become synonymous with political assassinations and the struggle for civil rights. His heinous act represented a tragic moment in American history, cutting short the life of a prominent leader in the fight against racial injustice and inequality.
