The Assassination Of Michael Lennon: The Death Of John Lennon

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On the night of Dec. 8th, 1980 – the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins were locked in a 13-13 tie with only seconds left in the 4th Quarter. What should have been an exciting finish to a close game suddenly became unimportant; as Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford struggled to find the words to broadcast the information they had just been given.
Gifford: ... Howard, you have to say what we know in the booth.
Cosell: … Yes, we have to say it. Remember this is just a football game; no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the west side of New York City, the most famous perhaps, of all The Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival. Hard to go back to the game with that news flash, which, in duty bound, we have to take. Frank?
Gifford: (after a pause) indeed it is. (2)
And with that announcement the whole world entered into a shared sadness and fascination about the details of the assassination of John Lennon.

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John Winston Lennon was born October 9, 1940, in Liverpool England. In the mid 1950’s he formed his first band, The Quarrymen, while still in high school. He met Paul McCartney in 1957 and invited him to join the group. Eventually, the two formed the most successful songwriting team in history and the most influential band in modern pop music…. The Beatles! (1)
John Lennon had reached remarkable success and fame as a member of The Beatles. He, along with McCartney had written some of the most popular songs of their generation; “All My Loving”, I Want to Hold Your Hand” “We Can Work it Out” and “Come Together” are just a small...

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...’s emergency room. Doctors are franticly trying to save him, but John is officially pronounced dead at approximately 11:15 p.m. (3)
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Mark David Chapman sat on the curb, waiting for the police to arrive. He had removed his coat and hat to show he was not concealing any weapons. When he was asked by the Dakota doorman Jose Perdomo, “ Do you know what you have done?” – Chapman calmly replied, “ Yes, I just shot John Lennon”.
While it was true that he had indeed shot John Lennon, what Mark David Chapman did that night was much more then he probably ever could imagine.
The aftermath of his actions left a nation and the world in a state of mourning that had not been seen since the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Even now nearly 35 years after his death, events are held around the world to commemorate both his death and everlasting impact.

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