A Look Back at a Murder That Shocked the World

John Lennon was one of the most influential and popular musicians of the 20th century. Forty-three years ago today, he was shot down in cold blood outside his New York City apartment building. Let’s take a brief look back at that awful day.

Background 

Born in Liverpool, United Kingdom, John Lennon rose to fame as a member of the Beatles — the superstar rock band that revolutionized music in the 1960s. After the Beatles broke up in 1970, Lennon pursued a solo career and became an outspoken advocate for peace and social justice. In 1969, he married Japanese artist and activist Yoko Ono, and together they had a son, Sean — born in 1975. Lennon and Ono lived in the Dakota — a luxury Manhattan apartment building — and there enjoyed a relatively private and comfortable life.

Mark David Chapman was a 25-year-old former security guard from Honolulu, with a troubled childhood and history of mental illness. Chapman was a Beatles fan and especially admired John Lennon At the same time, tragically, Chapman developed a resentment towards him that would eventually turn to hatred. Apparently, this was partly because of Lennon’s controversial remark in 1966 that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus” and partly because of Lennon’s lifestyle and lyrics, which Chapman perceived as hypocritical and phony. 

Chapman was also obsessed with J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye.” He personally identified with the protagonist, Holden Caulfield — a rebellious teenager who despises the adult world and its phoniness.

The Murder:

On December 8, 1980, Lennon and Ono spent a busy day promoting their new album — Double Fantasy — which marked their comeback after taking a five-year break from music. They had a photo session with Annie Leibovitz, who took the iconic picture of a naked Lennon embracing Ono.

This was followed by an interview with RKO Radio, where Lennon expressed satisfaction with his life and work. That afternoon, they departed the Dakota for the Record Plant recording studio. There, they worked on a song called “Walking on Thin Ice”.

Meanwhile, Chapman had flown from Hawaii to New York on December 6th. His purpose?  To kill John Lennon. He had purchased a .38 caliber revolver and hollow-point bullets in Honolulu. He brought along a copy of “The Catcher in the Rye,” in which he had written “This is my statement” and signed as “Holden Caulfield.” He stalked Lennon for several days and even met him briefly on the morning of December 8th. At that time, Lennon signed his copy of Double Fantasy outside the Dakota.

Around 10:50 PM, Lennon and Ono returned to the Dakota in a limousine. As they walked towards the entrance, Chapman fired five shots from behind them. Lennon was hit four times in the back and shoulder, staggered into the lobby, and collapsed. All Yoko could do was scream for help. The Dakota’s doorman and a nearby taxi driver tackled Chapman and held him until the police arrived. Chapman didn’t resist, calmly sitting on the sidewalk and reading his book. Lennon was immediately rushed to the Roosevelt Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival at 11:15 p.m.

Aftermath

Word of Lennon’s death spread quickly. Howard Cosell announced it on Monday Night football.  The news shocked the world. Millions of fans mourned him, holding vigils, singing his songs, and laying flowers and candles outside the Dakota. A number of fans even committed suicide, unable to cope with the staggering loss.

Yoko Ono asked for ten minutes of silence around the world on December 14th, which was observed by an estimated 100 million people. John Lennon was cremated and his ashes were given to Ono. There was no funeral.

Chapman pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20-years-to-life in prison. He has been denied parole 12 times since he became eligible in 2000. He has expressed remorse for the murder, as well as claiming that he was influenced by “demonic” voices in his head. 

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So there you have it. John Lennon’s death was a shocking event, which had a profound impact on music, culture, and society. Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of all time, John Lennon lives on — through his message of peace and love, the legacy of his activism and the sheer artistry of his music. May he never be forgotten. 

By Steve Roberts