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15 Shocking Facts About John Lennon’s Murderer: The Untold Story

English singer John Lennon, a former member of the Beatles, was mortally wounded by gunfire on December 8, 1980. The incident happened at the entranceway of the Dakota, where he lived in New York City.

Lennon鈥檚 lavish lifestyle and his 1966 remark that the Beatles were more well-known than Jesus. This angered and infuriated the murderer. The assassin spent months planning the murder before waiting for Lennon at the Dakota early on December 8th.

Lennon gave the murderer a CD of his album Double Fantasy after they had a brief encounter early in the evening. Lennon then left to go to the Record Plant for a recording session. Lennon went back to the Dakota later that evening with his wife, Yoko Ono. Four of the five hollow-point bullets fired by Chapman from a.38 special revolver struck Lennon in the back as he and Ono walked up to the building’s entryway.

At 11:15 p.m., Lennon was brought to Roosevelt Hospital in a police cruiser and declared dead there. Before being taken into custody by the police, the killer stayed at the site and continued to read The Catcher in the Rye.

1. The Killer Planned to Kill Lennon Two Months Prior to the Fateful Night of December

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The killer was Mark David Chapman. Gloria Hiroko Chapman, the spouse of Mark David Chapman, claimed in an interview that her husband had first considered killing Lennon two months before the tragic evening of December 8, 1980.

Chapman opted against the plan because, as he explained to his wife, he needed to mature as a man and a spouse and needed some time to reflect on his life. Gloria later claimed that her husband鈥檚 actions had left her in shock.

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2. The Killer Waited for Lennon Outside the Dakota in Early-Morning

Early in the morning, Chapman waited for Lennon outside the Dakota. He spent most of the day mingling with patrons and the doorman there. That morning, Chapman was preoccupied and failed to notice Lennon get out of a taxi and enter the Dakota.

Later that morning, Chapman ran across Helen Seaman, the Lennon family鈥檚 nanny, as she was coming back from a stroll with Sean, the five-year-old son of John Lennon. A handsome youngster, Sean was described by Chapman as he extended his hand to shake his.

3. Annie Leibovitz Took a Picture of John Lennon that Day

Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, were captured in their home by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz before leaving for the recording studio on the day of his passing. Lennon is shown curled up on his wife, who is still wearing her clothes, in the now-iconic photo that was eventually featured on the Rolling Stone cover.

Ono offered to remove only her top because she was scared to be nude for the picture. Lennon was ecstatic with the outcomes when Leibovitz ultimately determined that Ono should stay dressed.

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5. Lenno Gave what Would be His Interview to RRO Radio

Following the photo session, Lennon had what would turn out to be his final interview with writer/producer Laurie Kaye and DJ Dave Sholin of the RKO Radio Network in San Francisco. The interview was for a music show that would air on the network.

Lennon and Ono left their apartment at around 5 p.m. to mix 鈥淲alking on Thin Ice,鈥� an Ono song with Lennon playing lead guitar, at the Record Plant. They were delayed by a late limousine shared with the RKO Radio staff.

5. The Killer Received an Autograph from Lennon hours before the Shooting

Lennon and Chapman ultimately met the evening of the shooting after Chapman waited for two days outside of his apartment. On December 8, 1980, at 5 p.m., Chapman was outside with a copy of Lennon鈥檚 Double Fantasy album and managed to secure a signature before Lennon went to go to a recording session.

Later, Chapman said, 鈥淗e was very kind to me. Ironically, very kind and was very patient with me. The limousine was waiting … and he took his time with me and he got the pen going and he signed my album. He asked me if I needed anything else. I said, 鈥楴o. No sir.鈥� And he walked away. A very cordial and decent man.鈥�

6. The Killer Rapidly Fired Five Hollow-point Bullets from a Distance of about Nine to Ten Feet

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Around 10:50 o鈥檆lock in the evening, the Lennons arrived back at the Dakota. Before accompanying Ono to the Stage Deli restaurant, Lennon wished his son good night.

The Lennons moved past Chapman and in the direction of the building鈥檚 archway entrance. Chapman nodded at Ono as she passed. Lennon stared momentarily at Chapman as he passed, seemingly remembering him from before.

Chapman pulled his gun from his coat pocket seconds later, pointed it at the center of Lennon鈥檚 back, and quickly fired five hollow-point rounds from a distance of around nine to 10 feet.

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7. Mr. Lennon was called out by Chapman before Firing

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According to claims made that evening by James Sullivan, Chief of Detectives for the New York City Police Department, Chapman was said to have cried out 鈥淢r. Lennon鈥�. He took a combat position before firing, according to several witnesses.

This information was absent from later court proceedings and witness depositions. Lennon did not turn around, according to Chapman, who claimed he does not recall calling out to him before firing. In an interview with Barbara Walters from 1992, he claimed to have adopted a battle stance.

8. Two Bullets Entered the Left Side of Lennon鈥檚 Back

Lennon was injured by one bullet, but another ricocheted off a Dakota window. Two bullets entered Lennon鈥檚 back from the left side, passing through the left side of his chest and his left lung. According to an autopsy report, one exited the body, and another one became lodged in his neck, according to the autopsy report.

Lennon was struck by two more gunshots to the left shoulder. I鈥檓 shot! Lennon said as he stumbled up five steps to the security/reception area while violently bleeding from his mouth and exterior wounds. He suddenly collapsed to the ground, dropping the cassettes he was carrying.

9. Chapman鈥檚 Gun was Shaken out of his Hands by the Doorman

The doorman, Jose Perdomo, booted the gun across the ground after shaking it out of Chapman鈥檚 grasp. After pulling apart John Lennon鈥檚 bloody shirt and realizing the extent of his wounds, concierge staff Jay Hastings initially attempted to apply a tourniquet. This was before covering Lennon鈥檚 chest with his uniform jacket, taking off his blood-stained spectacles, and calling the police.

10. Chapman Stood on 72nd Street while Waiting for Police to Come

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While waiting for police to come, Chapman stood on 72nd Street without a coat or hat to demonstrate that he had no concealed weapons.

He was wearing a T-shirt from Todd Rundgren’s album Hermit of Mink Hollow underneath his coat. I just shot John Lennon, Chapman calmly responded when Perdomo yelled at him, “Do you know what you just did!”

11. Chapman Made No Attempt to Flee or Resist Arrest

The first police officers on the site were Officers Steven Spiro and Peter Cullen. They were near 72nd Street and Broadway when they initially learned that shots had been fired at the Dakota.

After arriving about two minutes later, the officers discovered Chapman calmly standing on 72nd Street and reading a paperback edition of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. They handcuffed Chapman right away and put him in the back of their patrol car. Chapman didn鈥檛 try to run away or resist being taken into custody.

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12. Doctors Worked on Lennon for 10 to 20 Minutes in an Attempt to Resuscitate Him

When policemen James Moran and Bill Gamble arrived. They rushed him to the hospital. In an effort to revive Lennon, three doctors, a nurse, and two to three additional medical personnel worked on him for ten to twenty minutes. The physicians tried manual heart massage to restore circulation as a final option, which involved cutting into Lennon鈥檚 chest.

They rapidly realized that the many bullet wounds to Lennon鈥檚 heart had done too much damage to the blood vessels above and surrounding his heart.

13. The Killer Told Parole Officials He Wanted To Be Famous

Chapman, who was openly fascinated with Lennon, shot him for just one reason: he desired recognition. Later, the assassin said he had no animosity towards the musician. He only desired to be well-known for something.

Moreover, Lennon’s extravagant way of life and his remark from 1966 that the Beatles were better known than Jesus. The murderer was furious and incensed by this.

14. The Wife Hit Her Head On the Floor after Learning about the Passing of her Husband

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Dr. Stephan Lynn, who was on duty there, informed Ono of her husband鈥檚 death. A Witness Said After learning that her husband had passed away, Yoko Ono hit her head against the floor.

15. Ono Urged the Medical Facility not to Inform the Media about her Husband鈥檚 Death

When Ono learned that her husband had passed away, she urged the hospital to wait to tell their five-year-old son Sean, who was at home, about the news. He was probably watching television, and Ono stated she didn鈥檛 want him to find out about his father鈥檚 passing through a TV announcement.

But WABC-TV news anchor Alan J. Weiss, who had been hurt in a motorcycle accident earlier that evening, just so happened to be waiting for care in the emergency room of Roosevelt Hospital. Lennon was brought into Weiss鈥檚 room by police, who then told him what had transpired. Weiss transmitted the information over the phone to his station.

One of the most important moments in music history was the assassination of John Lennon. Just ten years after the band鈥檚 dissolution, the adored songwriter and famous Beatle passed away. He was well into his equally successful solo career and his new life as a parent with his wife Yoko Ono.