About the Murder of John Lennon

John Lennon was murdered on December 8, 1980, in the entrance hall of his apartment building in New York City. He was 40 years old. The rock-and-roll legend was world famous for his work with The Beatles, as well as his solo career and anti-war activism. Lennon was murdered by a fan named Mark David Chapman. The exact motive is still unclear.

History of

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot four times while walking through the entrance hall of The Dakota apartment building in New York City where he lived. At about 10:50 pm, Lennon was attempting to follow his wife Yoko Ono into The Dakota after spending several hours recording a song at Record Plant Studio. Mark David Chapman was waiting for Lennon in an archway. When Lennon passed by, Chapman fired five shots. One missed. Two others hit Lennon in the back while two more hit him in the left shoulder. The hollow-point bullets caused severe internal damage. John Lennon was pronounced dead at the Roosevelt Hospital emergency room at at 11:07 pm.

The Facts

Mark David Chapman offered no resistance when he was arrested at the murder scene. He sat quietly on the sidewalk holding a copy of the book "The Catcher in the Rye." Chapman wrote inside the book cover "this is my statement The Catcher in the Rye." Chapman said that his life was similar to Holden Caulfield in the book. Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life. The judge ordered Chapman to get psychiatric help in prison. Chapman reportedly told his wife that he was obsessed with killing John Lennon before the murder. This was despite the fact that Chapman was a fan. Several hours before the murder, Lennon autographed an album for Chapman on the street. There was no indication at that time that Chapman intended Lennon any harm. Chapman subsequently admitted that what he did was wrong, but never fully explained why he wanted John Lennon dead. Chapman has been denied parole five times. He is currently in Attica State Prison in New York state.

Misconceptions

There are many stories surrounding John Lennon's last moments. When police officers took Lennon to their squad car to take him to the hospital, New York City police officer James Moran says he asked Lennon, "Do you know who you are?". One version of the story has Lennon nodding yes then making a gurgling sound and losing consciousness. Another version claims he said, "Yes, I'm John Lennon" and then fell unconscious. A third version has Lennon's last word as simply "Yeah." John Lennon never regained consciousness after getting into the police squad car.

Effects

In the days following John Lennon's murder, hundreds of memorials and tributes were held for him around the world. On December 14, 1980, millions of people all over the world paused for ten minutes of silence to honor John Lennon. The largest of these gatherings was in New York City's Central Park, where 100,000 people turned out. Every year on the anniversary of Lennon's death, there is a memorial service in front of Capital Records, near Lennon's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There are many permanent memorials to John Lennon, including a garden called Strawberry Fields in Central Park near the murder scene, and the Imagine Peace Tower off the coast of Iceland.

Significance

John Lennon made an indelible mark on humanity with his music and political activism. His premature death at the hands of a crazed assassin actually increased the lore surrounding his work and beliefs. He is lionized as a true believer in peace whose life and work were tragically cut short.