Overview
- John Lennon, 40, was shot outside the Dakota in New York on Dec. 8, 1980, and was pronounced dead that night at St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital.
- Mark David Chapman had obtained Lennon’s autograph earlier, fired five shots, stayed at the scene with a copy of The Catcher in the Rye, and was arrested by police.
- On his final day, Lennon posed for Annie Leibovitz for Rolling Stone, gave a radio interview, worked at Record Plant Studio, and was promoting his comeback album Double Fantasy.
- Convicted of second-degree murder in 1981 and sentenced to 20 years to life, Chapman has been denied parole 14 times, most recently in 2025, and remains at Green Haven Correctional Facility with a next review set for 2027.
- In recent parole hearings, Chapman acknowledged he killed Lennon to gain fame, saying the act was about Lennon’s popularity, as public remembrances continue at places such as Strawberry Fields in Central Park.