John Lennon‘s Killer, Mark David Chapman, Denied Parole for 14th Time
Albany, NY – Mark David Chapman, the man who fatally shot John Lennon in 1980, was denied parole for the fourteenth time on August 27th, officials with the New York State Board of Parole confirmed. The decision means Chapman, now 70 years old, will remain incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional facility in the Hudson Valley.
This latest rejection underscores the enduring impact of Lennon’s murder and the Board’s consistent assessment of Chapman as a continued risk to public safety. The denial impacts not only Chapman, who will next be eligible for parole in February 2027, but also the ongoing process of grappling with a tragedy that reverberated globally and continues to affect Lennon’s family, fans, and the broader cultural landscape.
Chapman fired at Lennon on December 8, 1980, outside the Dakota building in Manhattan, shortly after the former Beatle signed an album for him. He then waited for police, holding a copy of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. In 1981, chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
During his most recent hearing, Chapman again expressed remorse, previously stating in 2002, “There was evil in my heart.I will not blame anyone else. I knew what I was doing and knew it was evil, that it was wrong, but I wanted so much the fame that I was willing to give everything and take his life from a human being.”
The Board has consistently cited Chapman’s “selfish indifference for a human life of global transcendence” and the lasting void created by Lennon’s death as key factors in their decisions. They maintain that the consequences of his actions continue to be felt worldwide.
John Lennon’s killer Mark David Chapman learns his fate in his 14th parole hearing. Read more: https://t.co/Vf03Tsyn88 pic.twitter.com/5flpqPqrKp
– Complex (@Complex) September 11, 2025