JM-
Thanks for your collegial comments.
But, in fact, I do not subscribe to the theory that someone wanted to make LHO the patsy, and thus ergo would not place a gunsel on the GK area.
If I had to guess, the JFKA C was a make-do or ad hoc operation, but with people with military experience, such as LHO. They knew enough to have more than one gunsel, and perhaps to arrange a diversion, down by the GK. They could handle firearms.
BTW, a S&W snub-nose .38, the default concealed handgun of the time, released a great deal of noise and smoke, due to the short barrel. (And yes, even today cheaper grades of ammo give off a lot of smoke, as anyone who goes to a gun-range knows).
Re the gunsmoke smell in DP in the immediate aftermath of the JFKA:
We know, from coats and dresses, that the wind was blowing towards the TSBD at the time of the JFKA.
Ergo, the TSBD6 sniper's gunsmoke was not down by the GK.
IMHO, the nose-witnesses smelled gunsmoke down by the GK, as there was in fact gunsmoke down by the GK area in the immediate aftermath of the JFKA.
LHO may have been left "holding the bag" as he was the only one caught. So LHO concocted the "patsy" explanation.
Sure, some CT'ers have devised elaborate (and more than elaborate) explanations of a sophisticated JFKA.
Not me. I think the JFK CT was three guys, including LHO. They got lucky in some regards. Possibly G2'ers, or Alpha 66'ers who told LHO they were G2'ers. Both G2'ers and Alpha 66'ers had loads of reasons for the JFKA. Some G2'ers were double agents, embedded inside of Alpha-66 which had a regional HQ on Harlandale in Dallas.
Side note: You notice that CT'ers almost invariably and rigidly insist LHO was in no way at all involved in the JFKA...but LN'ers insist LHO, absolutely and well beyond all reasonable doubt, must have acted alone?
Well, just my IMHO.
Add on: Dr. Robert Shaw's expert commentary regarding JBC's wrist wound are worth contemplating.