John Lennon was shot outside his apartment in New York 40 years ago today, on December 8 1980.
Lennon, 40, was killed by Beatles fan Mark David Chapman, 25, who reportedly idolised the musician.
At the time he claimed he was carrying out the JD Salinger book Catcher in the Rye, saying he identified with the main character’s “isolation” and “loneliness”.
Earlier in the day Chapman waited outside the Dakota, Lennon’s Manhattan apartment building, and asked Lennon for an autograph, when on his way to a recurring session.
In the evening, when Lennon returned home by limo, Chapman shot the musician four times as he left the car, with Yoko witnessing the incident.
He was pronounced dead an hour later at nearby Roosevelt Hospital.
But where is John’s killer now? Here is what happened to Mark David Chapman after the Beatles’ legend’s death.
Chapman pleaded guilty to the murder of the musician, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
However, 40 years later the killer is still in prison, and has been denied parole 11 times, the most recent time in August 2020.
Chapman is currently serving time at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York.
He is now 65 and married to a woman who lives near the facility, where he’s been for the past eight years.
During his latest parole hearing, Chapman said he had killed the rock star for “glory”, and said he deserved the death penalty,
He also said he thinks about the “despicable act” all the time, and accepts he may spend the rest of his life in prison.
Chapman added to the parole board: “I just wanted to reiterate that I’m sorry for my crime.
“I have no excuse. This was for self-glory. I think it’s the worst crime that there could be to do something to someone that’s innocent.”
Chapman explained that he hadn’t killed him “because of his character or the kind of man he was”.
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He claimed that he had “assassinated him”, “because he was very, very, very famous and that's the only reason and I was very, very, very, very much seeking self-glory, very selfish”.
Chapman was described as being deeply religious and a “devoted Christian”.
He is also a clerk and a porter in a restricted block of the prison.
Chapman is next eligible for parole in two years time.
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