CASE 1

The Killing of John Lennon

On December 8th 1980 John Lennon was shot in the archway of the Dakota, his residence in New York City. His killer was Mark Chapman, a 25 year old security guard from Honolulu Hawaii. Chapman fired five times and hit Lennon four times in the back. Lennon then staggered up the stairs into the Dakota where he collapsed. The concierge, Jay Hastings attempted to aid Lennon, but summoned the police upon seeing the severity of his injuries. Outside the doorman, Jose Perdomo shook the gun from Chapman's hand while Chapman removed his hat and jacket. He then sat down on the sidewalks and waited for the police. When asked if he knew what he had done, Chapman replied, "Yes, I just shot John Lennon." Police rushed Lennon to the hospital and after failed attempts to revive him, he was produced dead on arrival.

Mark David Chapman

Age 25

(Now 61)

Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to the murder of John

Lennon in 1981. He was sentenced to 20 years to life and was denied parole nine times. He remains in Wende Correctional Facility. He stated that the reason for killing John Lennon was, "I felt that by killing John Lennon I would become somebody."