The "The Murder Of John Lennon" Story

It was an ordinary day.  December 8, 1980; which is just a bit over 40 years ago.  It was on that date when a fellow named Mark David Chapman murdered Beatle member, guitarist John Lennon.  Sad day in our home, since Carol's favorite musical group was the "Beatles" whose members were Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon.

John Lennon

Never had the opportunity to see them in concert, but never missed a show when they were on television.  Mark was a Beatles fan who had traveled from Hawaii to New York with the purpose of killing John.  He was angered by Lennon's lifestyle and public statements, especially John's much publicized remark about the Beatles being "more popular than Jesus" and the lyrics of his songs "God" and "Imagine".  He had planned the murder for many months and was at John and his wife Ono's apartment in New York, waiting for him to return to "The Dakota" apartment complex.

Mark David Chapman

Earlier that evening he had met Lennon and had him sign a copy of the Beatles' album "Double Fantasy".  As John and Ono walked towards the entrance of the building, Chapman fired five hollow-point bullets from his .38 revolver.  Four of them struck Lennon in the back.  Lennon was rushed by the police to Roosevelt Hospital in a police car where he was pronounced dead-on-arrival.  John was 40 years old.  As far as Mr. Chapman, he remained at the scene reading "The Catcher in the Rye" until police arrested him for the murder.  Crowds gathered at The Dakota where they lit candles to remember John.  He was later cremated and buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.  His ashes were given to his grieving wife.  She in turn requested that there not be a funeral, but that there be 10 minutes of silence around the world the following Sunday.  Those living in New York could come to nearby Central Park in New York.  Mark Chapman was sentenced to 20-years-to-life imprisonment in a New York prison.  His 20 years was up in 2000 but he has been denied parole 11 times since then.  It might be best he has been kept in prison, since I believe he might be murdered himself if he is ever released.  Beatles fans all over the world would be looking for him!  Three Beatles fans killed themselves after the murder leading to Ono making an full-page newspaper open letter appeal on January 18, 1981 asking mourners not to give in to despair.  The letter appeared in The New York Times as well as The Washington Post.  The letter was titled "In Gratitude" and expressed her thanks to those that mourned her husband.  

John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison

The last Beatles' album, "Double Fantasy," which was released a few weeks before John's murder, became a huge success and won the 1981 Album of the Year.  Later that year Ono released a solo album which featured Lennon's blood-spattered glasses on the cover.   One more note: Jay Hastings, The Dakota doorman who tried to help John, sold the shirt he was wearing that night, which carried John's blood, eight years later for $42,178.60 at auction.   I would love to be able to frame that for the owner.   It was on February 7, 1964 that the Beatles arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, greeted by scores of screaming fans who rushed to the gate to catch a glimpse of John, Paul, George and Ringo.  Two nights later they appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show."  

My wife and I watched both the arrival at the airport as well as their performance on national TV.  The British Invasion had just started!  In our living room we have a wall covered with record albums from both Carol's favorite artists as well as mine.  One of those albums, in near-perfect condition, is "Meet The BEATLES!" which was released January 10, 1964 in the United States.  I often wonder if I should take it down from the wall and take the record from the sleeve so we can play it.  Only problem would be...we don't have a record player anymore.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.