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Why Was John Lennon Murdered: 10 Facts About His Death

John Lennon was having a nice day on 8th December 1980 not knowing that this was his last day alive. An English musician formerly of the Beatles was at his residence in New York. He was having a photo shoot for Rolling Stone magazine with his wife before the whole incident happened.

That same day, a 25-year-old former security guard from Honolulu, Mark David Chapman was waiting for John Lennon. David Chapman was a huge fan of the Beatles who had no previous criminal convictions. Even though he was a huge fan of the Beatles, Chapman was so mad at Lennon鈥檚 infamous and much-publicized remark in 1966.

The remark was that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Chapman was also not a huge fan of the lifestyle that John Lennon. On 27 October 1980, David Chapman purchased a five-shot .38 caliber Charter Arms revolver in Honolulu before traveling to New York.

In New York, Chapman waited for Lennon at the Dakota for several hours before he executed his plan. That night as Lennon was going to bid goodnight to his son, he used the entrance that was not well secured not knowing that Chapman was waiting for him. After greeting him again and moving forward, Chapman reached out to his gun and fired five times at Lennon鈥檚 back.

Lennon staggered forward and fell over his face bleeding from the mouth and the gunshot wounds. Chapman stood there waiting for police to arrive and took him away as medics tried their best to resuscitate Lennon but he died on arrival to hospital. David Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of Lennon and was handed 20 years of prison time. He is still incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility.

Below are the 10 facts about the death of John Lennon:

1. Chapman had Planned for the Murder of John Lennon for Several Months

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25-year-old Mark David Chapman was a huge fan of the Beatles. His favourite was John Lennon but he was not satisfied with his lifestyle. What made him more enraged about the Beatles was a comment made by John Lennon.

This pushed him to plan on murdering John Lennon even though he never had a prior criminal record. It took several months of planning for Mark David Chapman to carry out the murder of John Lennon.

2. David Chapman Purchased the Revolver in Honolulu and Flew to New York with it

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After several months of planning to murder John Lennon, David Chapman found the right time to carry out his plan. He needed a weapon and a .38 calibre Charter Arms revolver was his firearm of choice. On 27 October 1980, he made the purchase of this firearm in Honolulu.

Before traveling to New York with the revolver, he contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to enquire about how to transport a revolver. Chapman was made aware that the bullets could be damaged on the plane. He had to travel without ammunition from Honolulu to New York.

3. Lennon鈥檚 Son was Greeted by Chapman before His Murder

Chapman spent most of the day talking to John Lennon鈥檚 fans and the doorman while waiting for Lennon outside the Dakota in the early morning. Chapman was preoccupied that morning and failed to notice Lennon get out of a taxi and enter the Dakota.

Later that morning, Chapman ran across Helen Seaman, the family nanny for John Lennon, as she was coming back from a stroll with Sean, John Lennon鈥檚 five-year-old son. Chapman shook Sean鈥檚 hand and referred to him as a 鈥渂eautiful boy鈥� while quoting John Lennon鈥檚 song 鈥淏eautiful Boy (Darling Boy)鈥� in front of the housekeeper. This happened before he murdered Lennon.

4. John Lennon Signed Chapman鈥檚 Autograph and had a Conversation before the Act

That same evening, John Lennon and David Chapman had an interaction with Lennon not knowing that this was his murderer. As he was leaving the Dakota, Chapman approached Lennon and asked for an autograph which he never turned back. During the signing of the autograph, Chapman and Lennon had a conversation which left Chapman impressed with how he was a nice man.

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. Very cordial and decent man.鈥� David Chapman. Their interaction was caught in a picture by amateur photographer Paul Goresh.

5. Lennon used an Unsecured Courtyard of the Dakota before His Murder

, , via Wikimedia Commons

At around 10:50 p.m., the Lennons arrived back at the Dakota. Before going to the Stage Deli restaurant with Ono, Lennon wanted to say goodnight to his son. The Lennons got out of their vehicle on 72nd Street rather than pulling into the Dakota鈥檚 more secure courtyard.

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.

6. Chapman Shot Lennon Five Times in the Back as He Passed Him By

After the brief facial interaction John Lennon had with Chapman, the best moment presented itself to him, Chapman. He drew his gun from his coat pocket and aimed it at John Lennon鈥檚 back.

Chapman rapidly fired five hollow-point bullets at the center of the back of John Lennon. He was about nine to ten feet away from John Lennon.

7. Lennon Staggered Five Steps to the Security Area Asking for Help after being Shot

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The bullets from David Chapman鈥檚 gun struck John Lennon as he had planned. John Lennon staggered up five steps from where he had been shot up to the reception/security area. He then told the people at this point that he had been shot before he fell over his face blood coming out his mouth and the wounded areas.

8. Four Bullets Struck Lennon & One Missed Him

Not all five bullets shot from David Chapman鈥檚 firearm hit John Lennon as it was intended. Four bullets struck him while one missed and struck the window of the Dakota.

An autopsy report showed that two of the bullets entered Lennon鈥檚 left side of the back. They travelled through his left side of the chest and left lung with one exiting the body and the other lodged in his back. The other two hit Lennon鈥檚 left shoulder.

9. Attempts to resuscitate John Lennon were made but He never Made it Alive

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John Lennon did not die immediately after he was shot by David Chapman. He fell over on his face bleeding from his mouth and the back wounds. The people who were present at the time tried to tourniquet the areas he was shot at but he was bleeding profusely.

The first officers to arrive at the scene managed to arrest David Chapman who never resisted or tried to escape. Without waiting for emergency services to arrive at the scene, John Lennon was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital on West 59th Street. Attempts to resuscitate him did not go well as he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

10. John Lennon鈥檚 Remains Were Cremated a Day after His Murder

At 11:15 p.m., John Lennon was pronounced dead due to hypovolemic shock because of the massive loss of blood. It did not take long for John Lennon to be laid to rest. The following day, his remains were cremated at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, Westchester County, New York. His ashes were scattered in Central Park in the sight of his apartment.

On the other hand, Mark David Chapman was grilled for several hours after he was detained. He pleaded guilty to the murder of John Lennon during his trial and was found guilty of second-degree murder. David Chapman was handed a 20-year-to-life sentence with parole in 2000. However, he is currently incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility.