John Lennon: the Beatle’s murder and the thin line between admiration and obsession – True Crime & Music

New York, December 8, 1980: John Lennon, one of the most famous musicians in the world, former member of The Beatles and a symbol of peace, was tragically murdered by one of his own fans.

It was a cold night… and one of the most shocking crimes in the history of music took place. Outside the Dakota Building, where he lived, a man waited for hours with a gun… and a copy of The Catcher in the Rye. His name was Mark David Chapman. Earlier that same day, John Lennon, kind and unaware of what was to come, had signed an autograph for him.

When Lennon returned home with Yoko Ono that evening, Chapman stepped out of the shadows. He fired five shots, and four bullets hit John. Within minutes, the world’s voice of peace was gone. He was only 40 years old. Chapman claimed that the book had told him to do it. He called Lennon a “phony.” But no one could understand how a fan could kill the man he admired.

He never fought the charges. Chapman pleaded guilty… and remains behind bars to this day. John Lennon’s last words? Unknown. But his message still echoes: “Imagine all the people living life in peace.”

It is yet another reminder of how thin the line can be between admiration and obsession toward one’s favorite artist, and how that can lead to tragedy, to a real crime.