Fans, Ono, bandmates mark 40 years since John Lennon's death
Fans have remembered John Lennon on the 40th anniversary of the former Beatle’s death with flowers, candles and songs in New York's Central Park
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fans remembered John Lennon with flowers, candles and songs Tuesday, the 40th anniversary of the former Beatle's death after being shot outside his New York City apartment building.
In Central Park s Strawberry Fields section, which is steps from where he was shot and is dedicated to Lennon, photos of the icon ringed the inlaid “Imagine" mosaic, along with a magazine, a small tree and other memorabilia, as musicians played nearby.
It was Dec. 8, 1980, when the world-famous musician was with his wife, Yoko Ono, and was shot by Mark David Chapman outside the Dakota apartments on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Chapman remains in prison.
At the time, The Associated Press reported, “Lennon and his wife were walking through the Dakota’s big, arched entryway about 10:50 p.m. when a man approached them and fired five shots from a .38-caliber pistol. Lennon yelled ‘I’m shot' and staggered up a few steps into the building and collapsed."
The anniversary was marked on social media by Ono, as well as by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the two surviving members of the quartet that made up the Beatles. George Harrison died in 2001.
“The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience After 40 years, Sean, Julian and I still miss him," Ono said, referring to Lennon's two sons.
She also highlighted the toll of gun violence, posting an image of Lennon's bloody eyeglasses and listing the number of people she said have been killed by guns in the U.S. since his death.
McCartney and Starr both made posts with images of them in their younger days with Lennon.