It was on December 8, 1980 that John Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in New York City.
John Lennon was part of the most popular group of the 20th century - The Beatles. Along with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, The Beatles stormed the pop scene in their native Liverpool, England in the early sixties. They soon incited "Beatlemania" in America where they were known as the "Fab Four."
John Lennon's name will forever be remembered not only for his singing and song writing, but also for his political activism. In protest of the Vietnam War, Lennon used his fame to make public political statements, organize rallies, and even start his own political party - the Youth International Party. In 1975, John Lennon took much time away from the music scene and relaxed his political activities to spend time with his wife, Yoko Ono, and his son, Sean.
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon and his wife were entering a Manhattan recording studio when a fan asked him to autograph his album. John signed it not knowing that this fan, Mark David Chapman, would be his murderer. About six hours later as John and Yoko were leaving to go home, Chapman pulled out a gun and shot John Lennon to death. Police arrested Chapman who later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Upon the counsel of psychiatrists who diagnosed him as a borderline psychotic, Chapman was denied a parole hearing in 2000. Chapman is currently imprisoned at Attica Prison in New York.
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