 |
| Lennon had been at a
mid-town studio earlier in the evening |
| 1980: John Lennon shot dead |
England have
Former Beatle John Lennon has been shot dead by an unknown gunman who
opened fire outside the musician's New York apartment.
The 40-year-old was shot several times as he entered the Dakota, his
luxury apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side, opposite Central
Park, at 2300 local time.
He was rushed in a police car to St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center,
where he died.
His wife, Yoko Ono, who is understood to have witnessed the attack, was
with him.
A police spokesman said a suspect was in custody, but he had no other
details of the shooting.
"This was no robbery," the spokesman said, adding that Mr Lennon was
probably shot by a "deranged" person.
Witness reports say at least three shots were fired and others have
claimed they heard six.
There are also reports Mr Lennon staggered up six steps into the
vestibule after he was shot,
before collapsing.
Jack Douglas, Lennon's producer, said he and the Lennons had been at a
studio called the Record Plant in mid-town earlier in the evening and
Lennon left at 2230.
Mr Lennon said he planned to have some dinner and then return home, Mr
Douglas said.
The Lennons are said to have left their limousine on the street and
walked up the driveway when the gunman opened fire.
It is unclear whether the man had been lying in wait in the entrance to
the building for Mr Lennon, or whether he came up behind him.
Witnesses describe the gunman as a "pudgy kind of man", 35 to 40 years
old with brown hair.
Other former band members, Paul McCartney, guitarist George Harrison
and drummer Ringo Starr are thought to have been informed of Lennon's
murder.
Fans have already begun arriving at the scene, many still unaware
Lennon has died.
Mr Lennon is survived by his wife, their son Sean, and his son from a
previous relationship, Julian.
