Today marks the 40th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.
On that day in 1980, (which was a Monday) John and his wife, Yoko Ono, exited a limo at approximately 10:50 pm ET, as he returned home from a recording session at the Record Plant to his luxury apartment building, The Dakota, on New York City's Upper West Side. The shooter was 25-year-old Mark David Chapman, who earlier in the day had Lennon sign a copy of his new album, Double Fantasy.
Lennon passed Chapman, who he called out, "Mr. Lennon," while walking to his apartment entrance and as Lennon turned, Chapman shot him multiple times. After collapsing inside the building's vestibule, he was rushed to nearby Roosevelt Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. He was 40 years old. Chapman remains imprisoned at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York.
Millions heard the news when Howard Cosell announced it during a Monday Night Football game on ABC between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.