John Lennon was shot by Mark David Chapman, a disturbed fan who had become obsessed with Lennon and angry at what he saw as Lennon's hypocrisy and fame.
Immediate motive
Chapman had been a Beatles fan but grew resentful of Lennon over time, citing Lennon's 1966 remark that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus," Lennon's lyrics that rejected religion, and the contrast between the song Imagine’s anti‑materialism and Lennon’s wealthy lifestyle. He later told authorities and parole boards that he also wanted notoriety and believed killing a famous person like Lennon would make him "somebody."
Planning and assassination
Chapman planned the killing for months and traveled from Hawaii to New York with the specific intention of murdering Lennon. On 8 December 1980, he waited outside Lennon’s home, the Dakota in Manhattan, got an autograph from Lennon earlier in the day, and then shot him four times in the back with a .38 revolver when Lennon returned that night.
Psychological and symbolic factors
Chapman identified strongly with the character Holden Caulfield from the novel The Catcher in the Rye and said he viewed Lennon as a "phony," a term Holden uses for people he sees as inauthentic. His explanations over the years have combined personal mental health struggles, religious zeal, fixation on the book, and a desire for fame, but he has consistently admitted the act was selfish and not driven by any direct provocation from Lennon himself.
