Mark David Chapman

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About Mark David Chapman

This is for people to share; images of Mark Chapman, the man who shoot John Lennon brutally in the 1980. Take part in discussion about Chapman, Mark.

Mark David Chapman (born May 10, 1955 in Fort Worth, Texas) is known for having been convicted of murdering former Beatle John Lennon on December 8, 1980. He is also associated with the book The Catcher in the Rye, having had a copy on him at the time of the murder. Chapman pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life. He has been denied parole four times and remains incarcerated at Attica State Prison.

It was revealed after his arrest for the Lennon murder that he had on prior occasions been caught attempting to break into Kensington Palace before it was the home of Diana, Princess of Wales. He had been caught on one occasion hiding in the grounds wearing a balaclava and carrying a knife, and in possession of a self-authored poem to Prince Charles.

Police also discovered he had compiled lists with the addresses, descriptions, photographs and car registration numbers of almost one hundred women. Diana, soon-to-be Princess of Wales's was among them, but not apparently John Lennon's.

In another incident, he posed as a police officer and had obtained false warrant cards. For this, he was arrested and taken to court, where he appeared in glam rock clothing and stated his name for the record to be Paul Gadd, the real name of Gary Glitter.

In 1971 in Alabama he organised a stunt in which he jumped over a row of double decker buses on his rollerskates. Hundreds of tickets were sold for the event. Reportedly at the last moment, having seen the platform and ramp which had been constructed, he tried to back down but in the end managed to complete the leap. From 1971 onwards, under the pseudonym of Steve Majors, he was convicted with assaulting many women and served twenty three months in jail for attempted rape, and various charges of assault and sexual harassment.

Between 1971 and 1979. Mark Chapman had also developed a fascination with weapons and had for a brief period been a member of the US Army until failing his basic training. He also had an application refused to join a gun club for lack of a suitable referee.

A psychologist studying Mark Chapman since his arrest for the Lennon murder concluded that he was suffering from several different personality disorders. He had also been suffering from epilepsy and this was only discovered after his arrest and may have contributed to his mental problems.