Mark David Chapman

Mark David Chapman (born May 10, 1955) murdered John Lennon on the night of December 8, 1980, in front of Lennon's residence, the Dakota Hotel, at the corner of West 72nd Street in Manhattan.

At various points in his life, Mark Chapman was a drug-addict, a born-again Christian, and a hospitalized mental patient. At one time he attended Covenant College in Georgia. He viewed the novel The Catcher in the Rye by novelist J.D. Salinger as having great personal significance.

Earlier in the day, Chapman had shaken hands with Sean Lennon, gotten an autograph from John Lennon, and remained in wait several hours for John to return. He shot at him five times, inflicting four wounds.

He was charged with second degree murder and was found competent to stand trial. It was expected that he would plead insanity; instead he pled guilty.

He is currently incarcerated at Attica State Prison, near Buffalo, New York. He has been denied parole twice, and will be considered again for parole in 2004.