On the evening of 8 December 1980, the English musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, was shot and fatally wounded in the archway of the Dakota, his residence in New York City. The killer, Mark David Chapman, was an American Beatles fan who was jealous and enraged by Lennon's lifestyle, alongside his 1966 comment that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus". Chapman said he was inspired by the fictional character Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, a "phony-killer" who loathes hypocrisy.
A police artist's sketch of the murder
Annie Leibovitz's portrait of Lennon and Ono, taken on the day of the killing
The 72nd Street entrance to the Dakota, where Lennon was shot
Side view of the Dakota archway, showing the step Lennon climbed before he collapsed in the lobby
John Winston Ono Lennon was an English singer, songwriter and musician. He gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His work included music, writing, drawings and film. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history.
Lennon in 1974
Lennon's home at 251 Menlove Avenue
Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Lennon and Paul McCartney in 1963
Lennon in 1964
