on 8 december 1980, lennon was shot dead as he was going into his home, by a man named mark david chapman who was mentally ill. even though he was ill, chapman was still prosecuted for murdering lennon. chapman pled guilty to the murder the next year, and is still in prison today. he admitted later he was jealous of lennon's fame and success, while his own life disappointed him. chapman thought that killing lennon would give his own life more meaning. he is always refused for parole, and is infamous (hated by many people).