Dec. 8, 1980

Monday, Dec. 8, 1980.

Former Beatle John Lennon and wife, Yoko Ono, decided to head to the Record Plant.

Upon leaving their New York City apartment building, The Dakota Building, Lennon was engaged in conversation by a fan.

Mark David Chapman, 25, had a copy of "Double Fantasy" in his hands. He handed it to Lennon, who autographed the record. Lennon then asked Chapman if he wanted more.

Chapman nodded.

Photographer Paul Goresh managed to take a photo of the two.

After a handful of hours at the Record Plant, a recording studio in New York City, Lennon and Ono returned home to see their son, Sean, off to bed.

They returned at approximately 10:50 p.m.

Ono walked ahead of Lennon into the reception area of the building. As Lennon followed, he glanced over and saw Chapman.

Chapman then fired five bullets at Lennon.

The first bullet missed, passing over his head.

But the next two bullets struck Lennon in the left side of the back. Two more bullets penetrated his left shoulder.

Three of the four bullets passed through Lennon, leaving a total of seven bullet holes.

One of the shots inflicted a fatal wound, piercing Lennon's aorta.

Lennon stumbled a few steps to the security/reception area, before mumbling, "I'm shot."

He then collapsed. Face down.

Lennon was taken to the Roosevelt Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival in the emergency room at 11:15 p.m.

That evening, the Miami Dolphins played host to the New England Patriots.

After hearing the news, Monday Night Football anchor Howard Cosell took his cue from partner Frank Gifford.

"And I don't care what's on the line, Howard, you have got to say what we know in the booth," Gifford said.

Then, Cosell told the world.

"Yes, we have to say it," he said. "Remember, this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all of The Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival. Hard to go back to the game after that news flash, which in duty bound, we have to take."

The Dolphins won the game in overtime, 16-13, on a 23-yard field goal by Uwe von Schamann.

But the Monday Night Football game didn't matter.

At that moment, nothing seemed to matter.

Lennon wasn't a saint. He had his share of troubles like most people.

But he was an inspiration and continues to be an inspiration.

Perhaps Lennon said it best when he wrote, "Imagine." Maybe everyone in the world could take time to read the lyrics to this song and give peace a chance.

Imagine

Lyrics by John Lennon

Imagine there's no Heave

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imaging all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one