Mark David Chapman killed John Lennon.
John Lennon, a former member of the Beatles, was shot and killed in New York City on December 8, 1980, outside his residence. Mark David Chapman was the killer. He was a Beatles fan who was angry about Lennon's expensive lifestyle and his 1966 comment that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.”
Chapman stated that he was inspired by the fictional character Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, who is described as a “phony-killer” who despises hypocrisy.
How did John Lennon die?
Chapman had been planning the killing for several months and was waiting for Lennon at the Dakota on the morning of December 8, 1980. Chapman met Lennon early in the evening and got his autograph on his copy of the album Double Fantasy. Lennon then left to go to a recording session at the Record Plant.
On December 8, 1980, Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, went back to the Dakota, his home in New York City. Chapman shot Lennon with five hollow-point bullets from a .38 special revolver as Lennon and Ono approached the entrance.
Chapman remained at the scene until he was arrested by the police. He was reading The Catcher in the Rye at the time. Lennon was transported to Roosevelt Hospital in a police car, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:15 p.m.
What caused John Lennon’s death?
The Lennons returned to the Dakota at about 10:50 p.m. Lennon wanted to say goodnight to his son before going to the Stage Deli restaurant with Ono. Instead of driving into the more secure courtyard of the Dakota, the Lennons exited their limousine on 72nd Street. The Lennons approached the archway entrance of the building, passing Chapman.
Chapman nodded at Ono as she passed by. Lennon appeared to recognize Chapman from earlier that day as he passed by. Chapman drew his gun and pointed it at the center of Lennon's back, and fired five hollow-point bullets from a distance of about nine or ten feet.
According to statements made by New York City Police Department Chief of Detectives James Sullivan that night, many reports at the time said that Chapman called out “Mr. Lennon” and dropped into a fighting position before shooting. Neither of these details were included in court hearings and witness interviews.
According to Chapman, he doesn't remember calling out to Lennon before he fired. He said in a 1992 interview with Barbara Walters that he had taken a fighting stance.
One of the bullets missed Lennon and struck a window of the Dakota. Lennon had two bullets enter his back, one entering the left side of his chest and lung, and the other exiting the body and lodged in his neck, according to the autopsy report. Lennon was hit by two more bullets in his left shoulder.
Lennon, who was bleeding profusely from his external wounds and from his mouth, managed to climb five steps to the security/reception area, where he said, “I'm shot! I'm shot!” He then stumbled and fell to the floor, causing the cassettes that he was carrying to scatter.
Lennon was hit by four bullets, three of which passed through his body and out of his chest, while the fourth lodged in his heart. One of the bullets from his chest hit and lodged in his arm. Several of the wounds could have been fatal on their own because each bullet had broken important arteries around the heart. Lennon was shot four times at close range with hollow-point bullets and his organs were almost destroyed
Lennon's death certificate says that he died at 11:15 p.m., but some people say that he died at 11:07 p.m. Lennon's death was announced over the hospital's sound system at the exact moment that the Beatles' song “All My Loving” came across the airwaves.
Lennon's body was transported to the city morgue at 520 First Avenue for an autopsy. Hypokalemic shock, caused by the loss of more than 80% of blood volume due to multiple through-and-through gunshot wounds to the left shoulder and left chest, was reported on his death certificate. The report said that even with quick medical treatment, no one could have lived for more than a few minutes with multiple bullet wounds around the heart.
FAQs
Q. How old was John Lennon?
A. John Lennon was 40 years old at the time of his death.
Q. Where was John Lennon shot?
A. John Lennon was shot outside his New York residence, the Dakota building.
Q. How old would John Lennon be in 2022?
A. John Lennon would have been 82 years old in 2022.
Q. How old is Yoko Ono?
A. Yoko Ono was born on February 18, 1933 and she is currently 89 years old.
