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Murder of John Lennon

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Template:Infobox Assassination John Lennon was an English rock musician who gained worldwide fame as one of the founders of The Beatles, for his subsequent solo career, and for his political activism. He was shot to death by Mark David Chapman at the entrance of the building where he lived, The Dakota, on Monday, December 8, 1980; Lennon had just returned from the Record Plant Studio with his wife, Yoko Ono.

Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, where it was stated that nobody could have lived for more than a few minutes 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 December 10, 1980, at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York; the ashes were given to Ono, who decided not to hold a funeral for him.

Day of the murder

On the morning of December 8, 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, Leibovitz left their apartment. After the photo shoot Lennon gave what would be his last ever interview to San Francisco DJ Dave Sholin for a music show on the RKO Radio Network.[3] At 5:00 p.m., Lennon and Ono left their apartment to mix the track "Walking on Thin Ice" at Record Plant Studio.[4]

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 Chapman.[5] He silently handed Lennon a copy of Double Fantasy, and Lennon obliged with an autograph.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8] Ono walked ahead of Lennon and into the reception area. As Lennon passed by, Chapman fired five hollow-point bullets at Lennon from a Charter Arms .38 Special revolver.[9] There was an isolated radio and newspaper claim at the time that, before firing, Chapman called out "Mr. Lennon" and dropped into a "combat stance",[10] but this is not stated in court hearings or witness interviews. Chapman has said he did not remember calling out Lennon's name before he shot him.[11] One shot missed, passing over Lennon's head and hitting a window of the Dakota building. However, two shots struck Lennon in the left side of his back and two more penetrated his left shoulder. All four bullets inflicted severe gunshot wounds, with at least one of them piercing Lennon's aorta.[12] Lennon staggered up five 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.[8] 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.[13] Chapman had scribbled a message on the book's inside front cover: "This is my statement. -- The Catcher in the Rye." He would later claim that his life mirrored that of Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist of the book.

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 placed Lennon on the back seat.[14] Moran asked, "Do you know who you are?" There are conflicting accounts on what happened next. In one account, Lennon nodded slightly and tried to speak, but could only manage to make a gurgling sound, and lost consciousness shortly thereafter.[15]

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 11:20 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. As Lennon was shot four times using hollow-point bullets, which expand upon entering the target and severely disrupt more tissue as they travel through the target, Lennon's affected organs were virtually destroyed upon impact. 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.[16] The following day, Ono issued a statement: "There is no funeral for John. John loved and prayed for the human race. Please do the same for him. Love, Yoko and Sean."[16] Lennon was cremated on December 10, 1980, at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, and his ashes were given to Ono.[17][18] Chapman pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life.[19] He is still in prison, having been denied parole five times.[20][21]

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. [22]

After hearing the news sent by ABC News chief Roone Arledge, sports announcer Howard Cosell, who had briefly interviewed Lennon on Monday Night Football in 1974, announced the news of Lennon's murder during a televised football game between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins:

This, we have to say it, remember this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all The Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to the Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival.

Following the game, Ted Koppel provided further coverage for ABC during Nightline.[23]

NBC announced the news during The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show was interrupted by an anonymous announcer reading the news bulletin; the show then resumed.

CBS broke the news during regular programming on the network, with Walter Cronkite and CBS News reporters announcing the news to viewers. Later that evening, Cronkite confirmed Lennon's death, at 11:20 pm.[24]

When a reporter 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."[25] Earlier that day, McCartney did say to reporters outside his Sussex home, "John will be remembered for his unique contribution to art, music and world peace."[25] Ringo Starr and his fiance, Barbara Bach, flew to New York to comfort Ono.[26] George Harrison later released a tribute song, "All Those Years Ago" which featured former bandmates Starr on drums and McCartney on backing vocals.[27] McCartney himself also recorded a tribute song for Lennon in his 1982 album, Tug of War, entitled "Here Today."

New York City station WABC-TV broadcast live coverage of the Lennon memorial tribute in Central Park six days after the shooting, with Roger Grimsby anchoring in the studio and Ernie Anastos reporting from the event.[28]

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.[29] 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.[30] 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.[30] 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.[31] 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.[29]

Elton John, who had recorded the number-one hit, "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" with Lennon, teamed with his lyricist, Bernie Taupin and recorded a tribute to Lennon, entitled, "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)." It appeared on John's 1982 album Jump Up! and peaked at #13 on the US Singles Chart that year. When John performed the song at a sold-out concert in Madison Square Garden in August of 1982, he was joined on stage by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon.[32]

Lennon was honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.[33] In 1994, the unrecognized 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.[34] On 8 December 2000, Cuba's President, Fidel Castro, unveiled a bronze statue of Lennon in a park in Havana.[35] In 2000, the John Lennon Museum was opened at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Saitama, Japan[36] and Liverpool renamed its airport to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and adopted the motto "Above us only sky" in 2002.[37] The 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death was on 8 December 2005.[38] Celebrations of Lennon's life and music took place in London, New York City, Cleveland, and Seattle. The minor planet 4147 Lennon, discovered 12 January 1983 by B. A. Skiff at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory, was named in memory of Lennon.[39]

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 Viðey, off the coast of Iceland. Each year, between 9 October and 8 December, it projects a vertical beam of light high into the sky.[40] 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.[41] 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.[42] 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.[43][44]

In Film

The assassination of John Lennon was depicted in the 2008 independent film Chapter 27. Directed by J. P. Schaefer the filmed starred Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman and, ironically, Lennon was played by an actor named Mark Chapman.

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. ^ Smith, Harry (2005-12-08). "John Lennon Remembered". CBS News. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
  4. ^ "The Last Days of Dead Celebrities". ABC, Inc. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  5. ^ a b "Is That All You Want?". Courtroom Television Network. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ a b "Do It, Do It, Do It!". Courtroom Television Network. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  9. ^ "Police Trace Tangled Path Leading To Lennon's Slaying at the Dakota". elvispelvis.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  10. ^ "Police Trace Tangled Path Leading To Lennon's Slaying at the Dakota" by Paul L. Montgomery, The New York Times, December 10, 1980, pp. A1,B6 (unverified quotes attributed to NYPD Chief of Detectives James T. Sullivan and in turn to an unnamed witness)
  11. ^ "I don't recall saying, 'Mr. Lennon'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  12. ^ "John Lennon - After The Music". Robert Soliman. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ Edwards, David (2005-12-03). "Lennon's Last Day". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2008-05-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Lennon shot on way to see son". Thestar.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  16. ^ 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)
  17. ^ Astucia, Salvador (2004-06-22). "John Lennon's Death Certificate". Salvador Astucia. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Seaman, Last Days of John Lennon, pg237
  19. ^ "Appendix C: Transcript of competency hearing for Mark David Chapman, 22 June 1981". Salvador Astucia. 2008-02-21.
  20. ^ "Lennon killer denied parole". CNN. 2004-05-10. Retrieved 2007-12-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Lennon killer fails in parole bid". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  22. ^ Kane, Larry (2007). Lennon Revealed. Running Press. ISBN 0-762-429-666. Cable News Network (CNN) and anchor Kathleen Sullivan was the first to report that Lennon had been shot, and was being rushed to Roosevelt Hospital (his death had not been confirmed).
  23. ^ "[[Nightline (US news program)|Nightline]], Dec. 9, 1980". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-04-25. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ a b "Paul McCartney 1984 Playboy Interview". The Trustees of Indiana University. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  26. ^ 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)
  27. ^ "All Those Years Ago". Connolly and Company. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  28. ^ "[[WABC-TV]] John Lennon Tribute, Dec. 14, 1980". WABC-TV. Retrieved 2009-04-25. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  29. ^ a b Gentile, Fiorella Dorotea. "The Central Park Vigil, New York, 14 December 1980". Thou Art. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  30. ^ a b Clyde Haberman, "Silent Tribute to Lennon's Memory is Observed Throughout the World," The New York Times, 15 December 1980 pA1
  31. ^ "Strawberry Fields". New York City Parks. Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  32. ^ songfacts.com "John Lennon". Retrieved 2009-05-12. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  33. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Awards". The Recording Academy. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  34. ^ Robinson, Ben. "March Marx Magic". Ben Robinson. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  35. ^ "Once-shunned Lennon now feted in communist Cuba". CNN. 2000-12-08. Retrieved 2008-05-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "John Lennon Museum". TAISI Corporation. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  37. ^ "Background Information". Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  38. ^ "25th Anniversary of John Lennon's Death". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  39. ^ "Lennon's planet". cfa.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  40. ^ "The Imagine Peace Tower". Imagine Peace. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  41. ^ Wayne, Gary. "Capitol Records Building". Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  42. ^ Chrystall, Margaret (2007-09-22). "Lennon fans come together". Highland News. Retrieved 2007-12-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ 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)
  44. ^ "John Lennon Northern Lights Festival in Durness". Scotland homepage. Retrieved 2007-12-25.

References

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