12/08/1980

12/08/1980 by ric Gustafson


It was around 11:00 pm on December 8 1980. The emergency room at New York's Roosevelt Hospital was busy as usual. All of a sudden, eyewitnesses could hear people shouting about a patient with a gunshot to the chest. A stretcher escorted by police was rushed into a trauma room. Eyewitnesses heard police officers exclaim that the victim was John Lennon.
On the morning of December 8, John Lennon started his last day by having a photo shoot done by Anne Leibovitz. After that, he did an interview with the RKO Radio Network. Around 4:00 pm, John and Yoko headed outside the Dakota building to get into a car and drive to the Hit Factory. Lennon noticed a young man with his new album who had been hanging around the entrance. He walked up to sign it. Mark David Chapman smiled as he did so.
At the Hit Factory, John and Yoko worked on a final mix for one of Yoko's songs. At about 10:30 pm, they decided to call it a night. The car dropped them off at the front curb of the Dakota. As the couple walked toward the front gate, Mark David Chapman stepped out of the shadows, got into a stance and fired four shots into John Lennon's back. Lennon collapsed in the office of the Dakota's doorman. 911 was called. Two police officers arrived, put Lennon in the back of the car and raced to Roosevelt Hospital. Yoko followed. Chapman was arrested.
Lennon's wounds were massive and he had lost a lot of blood. The trauma staff was unable to save him. John Lennon was pronounced dead at 11:15 pm.
Mark David Chapman remains in prison to this day.

The End


research help: ' John Lennon' by I-5 Publishing


Peace and God's blessings. Happy Holidays. Love Ric