Jeff Franzen was just 6 when he saw John F. Kennedy shot . Nearly 50 years later , he recalled that fateful day . His family had gone to downtown Dallas to shop . They set up in a park near the end of the parade . When the shooting started , Franzen thought the popping sounds were firecrackers . `` Unfortunately , the shot that killed the president , it looked like confetti just coming out of the car , and you just assumed that 's what it was , '' he told CNN 's `` Piers Morgan Live . '' Franzen spoke Wednesday night , just two days before the 50th anniversary of Kennedy 's assassination . The former president was fatally shot in Dallas on November 22 , 1963 , while traveling in a motorcade with his wife . `` Fortunately , because I was so young , I think I could n't even begin to comprehend that somebody was being killed in front of me , '' Franzen said . `` It 's more of an interesting tidbit of history that I just happened to be there . '' Opinion : 50 years on , the enduring lessons of JFK 's presidency . ' X ' marking spot of Kennedy assassination paved over .
Jeff Franzen was just 6 years old when he saw John F. Kennedy shot . He thought the popping sounds were funny . He died two days before the 50th anniversary of Kennedy 's assassination .