On December 8, 1980, an armed man, Mark Chapman, staked out the Manhattan apartment building where former Beatle John Lennon lived with his wife, Yoko Ono, and their young son. After receiving a signed copy of Lennon's latest album as the singer was leaving his home, Chapman waited until the couple returned to the apartment that night and shot Lennon in the back with a revolver. In this photo taken earlier that year, Lennon and Ono stand outside of the recording studio where he recorded his final album "Double Fantasy."
The murder of John Lennon —
On December 8, 1980, an armed man, Mark Chapman, staked out the Manhattan apartment building where former Beatle John Lennon lived with his wife, Yoko Ono, and their young son. After receiving a signed copy of Lennon's latest album as the singer was leaving his home, Chapman waited until the couple returned to the apartment that night and shot Lennon in the back with a revolver. In this photo taken earlier that year, Lennon and Ono stand outside of the recording studio where he recorded his final album "Double Fantasy."
Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Crowds gather outside of the Central Park West apartment building, the Dakota, after news of Lennon's death.
The murder of John Lennon —
Crowds gather outside of the Central Park West apartment building, the Dakota, after news of Lennon's death.
Ron Galella/WireImage
Yoko Ono is helped by David Geffen as she leaves Roosevelt Hospital after learning of the death of her husband.
The murder of John Lennon —
Yoko Ono is helped by David Geffen as she leaves Roosevelt Hospital after learning of the death of her husband.
Gene Kappock/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
Julian Lennon, the singer's first child from a previous marriage, waits at Heathrow Airport in London for a flight to New York the day after his father's murder.
The murder of John Lennon —
Julian Lennon, the singer's first child from a previous marriage, waits at Heathrow Airport in London for a flight to New York the day after his father's murder.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
An estimated 100,000 people gathered in Central Park to honor Lennon on December 14, 1980.
The murder of John Lennon —
An estimated 100,000 people gathered in Central Park to honor Lennon on December 14, 1980.
STF/AFP/Getty Images
Chapman, a former security guard, used a .38-caliber revolver to shoot Lennon in the back four times.
The murder of John Lennon —
Chapman, a former security guard, used a .38-caliber revolver to shoot Lennon in the back four times.
Jack Smith/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
Although his legal team had prepared for an insanity defense, Chapman pleaded guilty, saying he had received a message from God telling him to do so. He was sentenced to 20 years to life and has been denied parole seven times.
The murder of John Lennon —
Although his legal team had prepared for an insanity defense, Chapman pleaded guilty, saying he had received a message from God telling him to do so. He was sentenced to 20 years to life and has been denied parole seven times.
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