John Lennon’s final moments were even more tragic than we thought | UK | News
Lennon was transported to Roosevelt Hospital within 10 minutes and was pronounced dead on arrival. (Image: Vinnie Zuffante, Getty Images)
John Lennon’s heartbreaking final moments were revealed during an autopsy following his shocking murder.
The 40-year-old former Beatles legend had an action-packed agenda that included a photo session, a media interview and studio recording time on December 8, 1980, his last day alive.
Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, returned to their New York City home, the Dakota, late in the evening.
As the entrance to the building was approached, 25-year-old Mark David Chapman emerged from the shadows and shouted, “Mr. Lennon!” he shouted. and fired four bullets into the music legend.
After Chapman was brought to the scene, Lennon was transported to Roosevelt Hospital within 10 minutes and was pronounced dead on arrival.
Later, Lennon’s autopsy examination would record the painful injuries he endured in his final moments.
December 8 plans were intense
The artist recently reignited his musical journey with his first album, Double Fantasy, released after half a decade.
She did not spend the day caring for the couple’s child, Sean, as she had done since Lennon began taking time off in 1975.
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John Lennon’s last interview
Rather, he continued his return to the spotlight.
“We woke up to a bright blue sky stretching over Central Park,” Yoko Ono later recalled, according to the Smithsonian.
“There were bright eyes and bushy tails all day.”
After breakfast, Lennon had his hair cut.
After returning to the Dakota, photographer Annie Leibovitz did a photo shoot with the Lennons for the cover of Rolling Stone, which began a week ago.
Leibovitz said, “John appeared at the door wearing a black leather jacket and his hair slicked back. I was a little surprised. He had the old Beatle look.”
After the photo shoot, Lennon had his final interview with RKO Radio’s Dave Sholin.
Lennon talked about his daily routine, but soon started thinking about his 40th birthday.
“I hope I die before Yoko,” he said, “because if Yoko died, I wouldn’t know how to survive. I wouldn’t be able to go on.”
It was around 10.45pm when the couple returned home. (Image: Getty Images)
The killer was hidden with Double Fantasy
The interview continued as the Lennons headed to the Record Plant.
When they exited the building, though, Chapman was lurking by the curb.
Lennon noticed that he was holding a copy of Double Fantasy and asked if he wanted him to sign it, which he did.
Those moments were captured by Paul Goresh.
In the recording studio, the Lennons applied the finishing touches to their track Walking On Thin Ice.
It was around 10.45pm when the couple returned home.
Chapman appeared and was discharged. 38 caliber pistol four times.
He hit Lennon twice on the back and twice on the shoulder. Lennon is believed to have died immediately after being shot.
Paul McCartney sings with John Lennon at the O2
‘essentially pulseless’ on arrival
He was taken to nearby Roosevelt Hospital in less than 10 minutes and was pronounced dead on arrival.
NYC medical examiner Dr. “Death occurred within a very short period of time,” Elliot Gross said two days later, noting that Lennon “essentially had no pulse” when he arrived at the hospital.
But Lennon’s autopsy later revealed his devastating fatal injuries.
The Washington Post reported that Gross blamed Lennon’s death on “massive bleeding and shock” triggered by gunshot wounds.
According to the autopsy, two bullets pierced Lennon’s left lung and then pierced his chest.
One of the bullets penetrated his shoulder, hitting his left humerus, while the other pierced his left lung before lodged in his neck.
ABC broke the tragic news
Millions of people around the world received the news of Lennon’s death when ABC commentator Howard Cosell walked into the Monday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins and announced: “We have to say this. Remember, it’s just a football game. No matter who wins or loses. This is an unspeakable tragedy, it was confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City.”
“John Lennon, perhaps the most famous of all the Beatles, shot twice in the back outside his apartment building on New York City’s West Side, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital and died on arrival. It’s hard to get back in the game after that breaking news we were dutifully obliged to take.”
Thousands of fans flocked to the Dakota to pay their respects to Lennon, and a memorial service was held afterwards. But the landscape of music has changed irrevocably.
