On this day in 1980, John Lennon was tragically murdered in an act of senseless violence

Lennon left his residence at the Dakota for a recording session early in the evening, signing a copy of Double Fantasy for a fan on the way. As he returned later in the night, the same fan, a man by the name of Mark David Chapman, approached Lennon and Yoko Ono and fired five shots, four of them hitting Lennon in the back.

After  the incident, Lennon staggered into the lobby where he was comforted by a porter while waiting for an ambulance, and Chapman pulled out a copy of The Catcher in the Rye and read until the police arrived to arrest him. He later claimed to be inspired by a character in the book, Holden Caufield, a “phony-killer” who hated hypocrisy. Other stated motives included his anger at Lennon’s comment that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus and envy of Lennon’s lavish lifestyle and fame. Chapman received a 20 years to life sentence for his crime and has been denied parole 12 times since his eligibility in 2000.

Fans around the world were shocked by the horrific act and the loss of an inspiring, creative musician who constantly called for peace. Yoko Ono announced that in lieu of a funeral, there would be 10  minutes of silence arranged for people around the world to be able to participate. For those 10 minutes, every radio station in New York went off air as a sign of respect. Lennon’s body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in New York’s Central Park.

Every December 8th, numerous remembrance celebrations still take place around the world, including a ceremony in front of the Capitol Records building in California and the lighting of the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland from 9th October (Lennon’s birthday) through to the 8th of December. A memorial garden was also constructed in Central Park in his honour.

John Lennon left behind an incredible legacy, inspiring countless musicians to use their talents to help make the changes they want to see in the world. His incredible focus on world peace has led many others to dedicate their lives to the same goal and taught us that anyone can take action.