Overview
- On December 8, 1980, Lennon spent the day at home with Yoko Ono, posed for Annie Leibovitz, gave a radio interview, and worked at Record Plant Studio before returning to the Dakota around 10:50 p.m.
- Mark David Chapman, who had obtained an autograph earlier, approached from behind and fired five shots with a .38 revolver, four of which hit Lennon.
- Building staff and police responded immediately, officers transported Lennon by patrol car to Roosevelt Hospital, and doctors pronounced him dead at 11:15 p.m.
- Chapman stayed at the scene reading The Catcher in the Rye, was arrested without attempting to flee, confessed, and was convicted of second-degree murder in 1981.
- He is serving a life sentence with repeated parole denials, including a 14th rejection reported in September, after telling a 2020 hearing he sought notoriety.