| 10 May 1955 |
Mark David Chapman born, near Fort Worth, TX. |
| 2 Jun 1979 |
Marries Gloria Abe in Honolulu. |
| 23 Oct 1980 |
Quits his job as a security guard. |
| 27 Oct 1980 |
Purchases a five-shot, short-barrel, .38-caliber Charter Arms Special. |
| 30 Oct 1980 |
Flies from Honolulu to New York. |
| Nov 1980 |
Comes to his senses and returns to Hawaii, but only for a few days. |
| 17 Nov 1980 |
Double Fantasy released. It is John Lennon's first album after a five year hiatus from recording music. |
| 6 Dec 1980 |
Returns to New York. |
| 8 Dec 1980 |
At 10:50 PM, Mark David Chapman shoots John Lennon four times in the back outside The Dakota in New York. Lennon dies shortly thereafter at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center. Earlier in the day, Lennon had autographed Chapman's newly-purchased copy of Double Fantasy. |
| 6 Jan 1981 |
Enters a plea of not guilty. |
| 21 Jan 1981 |
Sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of John Lennon. His only response is to read a passage from The Catcher in the Rye. |
Assassinated Beatle John Lennon in New York City. Strangely obsessed with J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Chapman currently works as a janitor in Attica State Prison. He was denied parole in 2004.