CBNNews.com -- When former New York Times reporter Earl Caldwell was sent to Memphis to cover Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he had no clue what was ahead.  Caldwell was just finishing up his first year with the paper when he was told to pack his bags and interview the Civil Rights legend.

On the day before King was assassinated, Caldwell interviewed King with a promise that he could come back the next day for another interview.  But that interview never happened. On April 4, 1968 at 7:01 p.m., a lone bullet killed King. 

Caldwell was staying at the Lorraine Motel where King was assassinated. He was the only journalist on the scene.  Caldwell recently spoke with CBN News about the events surrounding King's death. 

Click the play button above to hear Caldwell explain what happened in those final moments.