To kill a genius, a man adored by millions, is one of the most disturbing and unforgettable acts imaginable. Yet Chapman openly admits that this was exactly why he did it: to become immortal. Mention one name, and the other inevitably follows.
By murdering John Lennon — poet, musician, peace activist, icon and symbol — Chapman ensured that his own name would be remembered forever, tied to an act of pure destruction.
The Beatles and Elvis Presley wrote music history in a way no others ever have. By ending Lennon’s life at only 40 years old, Chapman robbed the world of one of its brightest creative spirits and became one of the most hated men on earth.
The Murder
On December 8, 1980, outside the Dakota Building in New York City, five shots echoed through the cold evening. John Lennon was struck in the shoulder and chest as he returned home with Yoko Ono after a recording session. At 10:50 PM, their limousine pulled up to the entrance. Ono stepped out first, followed by Lennon. Standing nearby was Chapman, who had waited there for hours.
As Lennon walked past him, Chapman called out gently:
“Mr. Lennon.”
When Lennon turned his head, Chapman fired five rounds from a .38-caliber revolver. One bullet missed, but four hit their mark. The shot that killed him tore through his aorta. Lennon staggered inside the building, collapsed, and whispered:
“I’m shot… I’m shot.”
Meanwhile, Chapman stood still, holding the gun, and then calmly took out a copy of The Catcher in the Rye and began reading. This act of violence took place barely an hour after Lennon had signed an autograph for him.
Later, Chapman would claim he was partly driven by an old statement Lennon once made — that The Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.”
The Sentence
In 1981, Chapman was sentenced to life in prison. After serving 20 years, he became eligible to apply for parole every two years. Not one request has ever been approved.
Judges consistently deny his petitions — partly because of the brutality of the crime, and partly because releasing him would almost certainly endanger his life. Even in recent hearings his appeals have been rejected. For decades he expressed little to no remorse, saying:
“Thirty years ago, I felt no shame, but now I know what shame is.”
Only in 2020 did he offer something resembling an apology to Yoko Ono, though many doubt its sincerity. He now describes the murder as a “disgusting act” that he thinks about constantly. He also says he accepts the possibility that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Paradoxically, even in prison he has gained attention and accumulated money through interviews and publications — something his critics find deeply disturbing.
Who Is Mark David Chapman?
Mark David Chapman was born on May 10, 1955, near Fort Worth, Texas, the first child of an Air Force sergeant and a nurse. His father was violent, and psychologists believe this traumatic childhood left long-lasting psychological scars. As a child he lived in constant fear and created imaginary worlds in which he controlled “little people” living in the walls of his room.
In high school he used drugs and at one point lived on the streets. Later he became a born-again Christian and distributed religious pamphlets. People sometimes liked him; he once worked at a refugee camp for Vietnamese immigrants and was described as helpful and kind.
In 1977 he moved to Hawaii, where he attempted suicide and spent time in a psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of severe depression. After his release, he began working in a hospital and, in 1978, went on a six-week round-the-world trip — visiting Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Delhi, Beirut, Geneva, London, Paris, and Dublin.
In Hawaii he met Gloria, an American woman of Japanese descent. They married in 1979, and Chapman worked as a security guard. But over the following year, his mental health deteriorated. He became obsessed with The Catcher in the Rye and identified intensely with its alienated protagonist, Holden Caulfield.
Around this time he compiled a “hit list” of public figures he considered phony, including Johnny Carson, Elizabeth Taylor — and John Lennon. Ultimately, he focused on Lennon, believing the musician embodied hypocrisy.
His Wife’s Confession
Chapman’s wife Gloria later admitted she had known about his intentions. The moment she heard Lennon had been shot, she said, she knew her husband was responsible.
According to her, he had tried multiple times before to carry out the murder but had backed out — once saying he couldn’t go through with it because he loved her too much. Despite everything, Gloria has stayed with him. Her religious faith, she says, does not allow her to abandon him. She visits him regularly, and through her connection to him, her name too has become known.
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