29 Years Since John Lennon’s Death

F My Life: It's Funny, It's True, Except When It Happens to You

December 8, 2009 marks the 29th anniversary of John Lennon's death. The former lead singer of The Beatles was gunned down by Mark David Chapman outside of his apartment building in New York.

Chapman, who had an abusive father and had once attempted suicide, had become very angry with Lennon. He thought he was "phony" for singing and preaching about love and "no possessions," while he had made millions of dollars.

He also didn't care much for Lennon's famous "bigger than Jesus" quote about the British band. He had begun planning how he would kill Lennon in October of 1980, and Chapman carried out that plan about two months later.

On that fateful day, Chapman waited outside of Lennon's apartment building, the Dakota, talking with other fans and even shook Sean Lennon's hand, who was just 5 at the time. Chapman later stopped Lennon as he was heading to a recording session and asked him to sign a copy of his 'Double Fantasy' album. When Lennon came back from the the studio a little before 11 p.m., Chapman shot him four times. John Lennon was pronounced dead at 11:07 p.m. EST.

When authorities arrived on the scene, Mark David Chapman was reading J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye.' He was eventually sentenced to 20 years to life for 2nd degree murder. He's currently doing time in the Attica Correctional Facility in New York.

Chapman has been denied parole five times, including his most recent attempt in August of last year.