Mark David Chapman

Mark David Chapman  (born May 10, 1955) is an American murderer who killed John Lennon in New York City on December 8, 1980.  Chapman shot Lennon outside the Dakota apartment building in Manhattan.  Chapman fired at Lennon five times, hitting him four times in the back.  Chapman remained at the crime scene and began reading J. D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye until the police arrived and arrested him.  He repeatedly said that the novel was his statement.  Chapman has been imprisoned since the murder and has been denied parole nine times amidst campaigns (most notably by Yoko Ono) against his release.  (More from Wikipedia)