 Guiteau concealed himself by the ladies ' waiting room at the Sixth Street Station of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad , from where Garfield was scheduled to depart . Most of Garfield 's cabinet planned to accompany him at least part of the way ; Blaine , who was to remain in Washington , came to the station to see him off . The two men were deep in conversation and did not notice Guiteau before he took out his revolver and shot Garfield twice , once in the back and once in the arm . The time was 9 : 30 a.m. The assassin attempted to leave the station , but was quickly captured . As Blaine recognized him and Guiteau made no secret of why he had shot Garfield , the assassin 's motivation to benefit the Stalwarts reached many with the early news of the shooting , causing rage against that faction . 
