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Murder of John Lennon

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The Dakota building
Southeast view of the Dakota from Central Park West
LocationNew York, NY

John Lennon was an English rock musician who gained worldwide fame as one of the founders of the band The Beatles, for his subsequent solo career, and for his political activism. He was shot four times (the fifth shot missed) by Mark David Chapman in the entrance hallway of the building where he lived, The Dakota, on 8 December 1980; Lennon had just returned from the Record Plant Studio with his wife, Yoko Ono.

Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at the Roosevelt Hospital, where it was stated that nobody could have lived for very long after sustaining such injuries. Shortly after local news stations reported Lennon's death, crowds gathered at Roosevelt Hospital and in front of The Dakota. Lennon's cremation was on 10 December 1980, at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York; the ashes were given to Ono, who decided not to hold a funeral for him.

In 2000, the John Lennon Museum was opened at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Saitama, Japan, and two years later, Liverpool renamed its airport to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and adopted the motto "Above us only sky". On 9 October 2007, Ono dedicated a memorial called the Imagine Peace Tower, located on the island of Videy, Iceland. Each year, between 9 October and 8 December, it projects a vertical beam of light high into the sky.

Day of the assassination

On the morning of 8 December 1980, photographer Annie Leibovitz went to Ono and Lennon's apartment to do a photo shoot for Rolling Stone. She had promised Lennon a photo would make the cover, but initially tried to get a picture with just Lennon alone.[1] Leibovitz recalled that "nobody wanted [Ono] on the cover".[2] Lennon insisted that both he and his wife be on the cover, and after shooting the pictures, Annie Leibovitz left their apartment. At 5:00 p.m., Lennon and Ono left their apartment to mix the track "Walking on Thin Ice" at Record Plant Studio.[3]

Chapman

Main article: Mark David Chapman
File:Lennon and Chapman.jpg
Lennon and Chapman

As Lennon and Ono walked to their limousine, they were approached by several people seeking autographs, among them Mark David Chapman.[4] Chapman silently handed Lennon a copy of Double Fantasy, and Lennon obliged with an autograph.[4] After signing the album Lennon asked him, "Is this all you want?" Chapman nodded in agreement. Photographer and Lennon fan Paul Goresh snapped photos of them both.[5]

The Lennons spent several hours at the Record Plant studio before returning to the Dakota at about 10:50 p.m. Lennon decided against eating out so he could be home in time to say goodnight to five-year-old son Sean before he went to sleep. They exited their limousine on 72nd Street, even though the car could have been driven into the more secure courtyard.[6]

Police artist's drawing of the murder

The Dakota's doorman, Jose Perdomo, and a cab driver saw Chapman standing in the shadows by the archway.[7] Ono walked ahead of Lennon and into the reception area. Chapman called out, "Mr. Lennon!", and as Lennon turned around, Chapman dropped into a "combat stance" and shot at Lennon five times with hollow point bullets from a Charter Arms .38 revolver.[8] One shot missed, passing over Lennon's head and hitting a window of the Dakota building. Two shots struck Lennon in the left side of his back and two more in his left shoulder. All four wounds caused serious internal damage, at least one of which fatally piercing Lennon's aorta.[9] Lennon staggered up six steps to the security/reception area, said, "I'm shot," and collapsed. Concierge Jay Hastings covered Lennon with his uniform, and removed his glasses; he then summoned the police. Outside, doorman Perdomo shook the gun out of Chapman's hand then kicked it across the sidewalk.[7] Chapman then removed his coat and hat in preparation for the police arrival to show he was not carrying any concealed weapons and sat down on the sidewalk. Doorman Perdomo shouted at Chapman, "Do you know what you've done?", to which Chapman calmly replied, "Yes, I just shot John Lennon." The first policemen to arrive were Steve Spiro and Peter Cullen, who were at 72nd Street and Broadway when they heard a report of shots fired at the Dakota. The officers found Chapman sitting "very calmly" on the sidewalk. They reported that Chapman had dropped the revolver to the ground, and was holding a paperback book, J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.[10]

The second team, Officers Bill Gamble and James Moran, arrived a few minutes later. They immediately carried Lennon into their squad car and rushed him to Roosevelt Hospital. Officer Moran said they stretched out Lennon on the back seat.[11] Moran asked, "Do you know who you are?". Lennon nodded slightly and tried to speak, but could only manage to make a gurgling sound, and lost consciousness shortly thereafter.[12]

Death

The entrance to the Dakota building where Lennon was shot

Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival in the emergency room at the Roosevelt Hospital at 11:07 p.m. by Dr. Stephan Lynn. The cause of death was reported as hypovolemic shock, caused by the loss of more than 80% of blood volume. Dr. Elliott M. Gross, the Chief Medical Examiner, said that no one could have lived more than a few minutes with such multiple bullet injuries. Ono, crying "Oh no, no, no, no... tell me it's not true," was taken to Roosevelt Hospital and led away in shock after she learned that her husband was dead.[13] The following day, Ono issued a statement: "There is no funeral for John. John loved and prayed for the human race. Please pray the same for him. Love, Yoko and Sean."[13] Lennon was cremated on 10 December 1980, at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, and his ashes were given to Ono.[14][15] Chapman pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life.[16] He is still in prison, having been denied parole four times.[17][18]

Response

Shortly after local news stations reported the shooting, crowds gathered at Roosevelt Hospital and in front of the Dakota, reciting prayers, singing Lennon's songs and burning candles.[19] After hearing the news sent by ABC News chief Roone Arledge, sports announcer Howard Cosell, who had interviewed Lennon on Monday Night Football on 9 December 1974, announced the news of Lennon's murder. NBC announced the news during The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, it was interrupted by an annoymous announcer voicing the news bulletin then returned to the show. CBS broke the news during regular programming on the network, with Walter Cronkite, and CBS News reporters announcing the news to viewers and later on that evening, Cronkite confirmed Lennon's death, at 11:20 pm. [20]

When reporters asked Lennon's former Beatles-songwriting partner Paul McCartney for his reaction, McCartney said, "Drag, isn't it?" His response was criticised, but McCartney later stated in a Playboy interview: "I had just finished a whole day in shock and I said, 'It's a drag.' I meant drag in the heaviest sense of the word, you know: 'It's a — DRAG.' But, you know, when you look at that in print, it says, 'Yes, it's a drag.' Matter of fact."[21] McCartney later said, "John will be remembered for his unique contribution to art, music and world peace."[21] Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach, flew to New York to comfort Ono.[22] Harrison later released a tribute song, "All Those Years Ago" which featured background vocals from former bandmates Starr and McCartney.[23]

Memorials and tributes

A memorial statue of Lennon in Havana, Cuba

Yoko Ono sent word to the chanting crowd outside the Dakota that their singing had kept her awake; she asked that they re-convene in Central Park the following Sunday for ten minutes of silent prayer.[24] On 14 December 1980, millions of people around the world responded to Ono's request to pause for ten minutes of silence to remember Lennon.[25] Thirty thousand gathered in Liverpool, and the largest group - over 100,000 - converged on New York's Central Park, close to the scene of the shooting.[25] Lennon continues to be mourned throughout the world and has been the subject of numerous memorials and tributes, principally New York City's Strawberry Fields, a memorial garden area in Central Park across the street from the Dakota building. Ono later donated $1 million for its maintenance.[26] It has become a gathering place for tributes on Lennon's birthday and on the anniversary of his death, as well as at other times of mourning, such as after the 11 September attacks and following Harrison's death on 29 November 2001.[24]

Lennon was honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.[27] In 1994, the Republic of Abkhazia issued two postage stamps featuring Lennon and Groucho Marx, spoofing Abkhazia's Communist past. These stamps would have normally borne the portraits of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.[28] On 8 December 2000, Cuba's President, Fidel Castro, unveiled a bronze statue of Lennon in a park in Havana.[29] In 2000, the John Lennon Museum was opened at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Saitama, Japan[30] and Liverpool renamed its airport to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and adopted the motto "Above us only sky" in 2002.[31] The 25th memorial of John Lennon's death was on 8 December 2005.[32] Celebrations of Lennon's life and music took place in London, New York City, Cleveland, and Seattle. The minor planet 4147, discovered 12 January 1983 by B. A. Skiff at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory, was named in memory of Lennon.[33]

File:Imagine Peace Tower.jpg
The Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland

On 9 October 2007, Ono dedicated a new memorial called the Imagine Peace Tower, located on the island of Videy, off the coast of Iceland. Each year, between 9 October and 8 December, it projects a vertical beam of light high into the sky.[34] Every 8 December there is a memorial ceremony in front of the Capitol Records building on Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Many people light candles in front of Lennon's Hollywood Walk of Fame star outside the Capitol Building.[35] From 28 to 30 September 2007, Durness held the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival which was attended by Julia Baird (Lennon's half-sister) who read from Lennon's writings and her own books, and Stanley Parkes, Lennon's Scottish cousin.[36] Parkes said, "Me and Julia [Baird] are going to be going to the old family croft to tell stories". Musicians, painters and poets from across the UK performed at the festival.[37][38]

Notes

  1. ^ "Hours After This Picture Was Taken John Lennon Was Dead". Guardian Unlimited. 2005-08-12. Retrieved 2007-07-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Lucas, Dean (2007). "Naked Lennon". Famous Pictures Magazine. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  3. ^ "The Last Days of Dead Celebrities". ABC, Inc. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  4. ^ a b "Is That All You Want?". Courtroom Television Network. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  5. ^ Buskin, Richard (2007-07-03). ""John Lennon Encounters Mark David Chapman"". Howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Ledbetter, Les (1980-12-09). "John Lennon of Beatles Is Killed". New York Times. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ a b "Do It, Do It, Do It!". Courtroom Television Network. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  8. ^ "Police Trace Tangled Path Leading To Lennon's Slaying at the Dakota". elvispelvis.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  9. ^ "John Lennon - After The Music". Robert Soliman. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  10. ^ Montgomery, Paul L. (1981-02-09). "Lennon Murder Suspect Preparing Insanity Defense". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Edwards, David (2005-12-03). "Lennon's Last Day". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2008-05-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Lennon shot on way to see son". Thestar.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  13. ^ a b Cave, Damien (2004-06-24). "Grieving for a Fallen Hero". THE 50th Anniversary of Rock: The Moments 1980. The world mourns the death of John Lennon 8 December 1980. No. 951. Rolling Stone. p. 140. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved 2007-11-16. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Astucia, Salvador (2004-06-22). "John Lennon's Death Certificate". Salvador Astucia. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Seaman, Last Days of John Lennon, pg237
  16. ^ "Appendix C: Transcript of competency hearing for Mark David Chapman, June 22, 1981". Salvador Astucia. 21 Feb 2008.
  17. ^ "Lennon killer denied parole". CNN. 2004-05-10. Retrieved 2007-12-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Lennon killer fails in parole bid". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  19. ^ Kane, Larry (2007). Lennon Revealed. Running Press. ISBN 0-762-429-666.
  20. ^ Wiener, Jon. "John Lennon 1940-1980: History Professor Jon Wiener Discusses Lennon's Politics, FBI Files and Why Richard Nixon Sought to Deport Him". Democracy Now. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  21. ^ a b "Paul McCartney 1984 Playboy Interview". The Trustees of Indiana University. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  22. ^ Buskin, Richard (2007-07-03). ""The World Mourns John Lennon's Death"". Howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "All Those Years Ago". Connolly and Company. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  24. ^ a b Gentile, Fiorella Dorotea. "The Central Park Vigil, New York, [[14 December]] [[1980]]". Thou Art. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  25. ^ a b Clyde Haberman, "Silent Tribute to Lennon's Memory is Observed Throughout the World," The New York Times, 15 December 1980 pA1
  26. ^ "Strawberry Fields". New York City Parks. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  27. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Awards". The Recording Academy. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  28. ^ Robinson, Ben. "March Marx Magic". Ben Robinson. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  29. ^ "Once-shunned Lennon now feted in communist Cuba". CNN. 2000-12-08. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "John Lennon Museum". TAISI Corporation. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  31. ^ "Background Information". Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  32. ^ "25th Anniversary of John Lennon's Death". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  33. ^ "Lennon's planet". cfa.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  34. ^ "The Imagine Peace Tower". Imagine Peace. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  35. ^ Wayne, Gary. "Capitol Records Building". Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  36. ^ Chrystall, Margaret (2007-09-22). "Lennon fans come together". Highland News. Retrieved 2007-12-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Ross, John (2007-05-19). "Village strikes a chord with Lennon festival". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ "John Lennon Northern Lights Festival in Durness". Scotland homepage. Retrieved 2007-12-25.

References

  • Badman, Keith (1999). The Beatles After the Breakup 1970-2000: A day-by-day diary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-7520-5. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  • Seaman, Fred (1991). The Last Days of John Lennon. Birch Lane Press. ISBN 978-1559720847. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)

External links

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