Why Did Mark David Chapman Shoot John Lennon?

Because he was seriously delusional. He had convinced himself that the only way to show himself an important person was to do something as audacious as killing one of the most influential pop idols of the 20th century.

Chapman had a history of mental illness and drug addiction. He was working as a security guard in Hawaii when he travelled to New York City with the express purpose of killing Lennon. He made this trip several times, but only finally did the horrible act in December, 1980.

Chapman was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for this cold-blooded and premeditated act. He's been up for parole several times since the year 2000, but repeatedly denied. He is kept separate from other prisoners for his own safety, and still receives death threats daily in the mail. Chapman has occasional conjugal visits with his wife of 30 years, Gloria.

He has claimed in his recent statements to the parole board that he now understands that Lennon was a real person, not just a cardboard cutout and pop icon. But the parole board has remained unconvinced that it would be safe to let him out.

Mark Chapman killed John Lennon over that stupid quote the papers had published about Jesus. He belongs to some Christian movement. I can't remember the name of it. For those of you that may not know what I am talking about, John said "I don't know what is wrong with kids now. We are more popular than Jesus". Later John went on to say "What I meant was that I thought it was wrong that a lot of young fans were paying more attention to the Beatles than worring about going to church". John was talking about people in England. He had no way of knowing what was going on in the U.S. But the press in the U.S. Got wind of it and had a field day. Even the white trash KKK was having a field day! Being the terrorists they are, threatening the Beatles concert. I don't know if anyone could get their hands on it or not, but there was sort of biographical movie done about Mark that told the whole story about how he left Hawaii and stalked John for days. He had been in New York at least a week and hung out with other people that were there to get John's autograph, which John had given to him a day or two before the night he shot John. Chapman even talked about how nice John was. If there is a lesson to be learned about this and other senseless acts, it is do not believe everything you read in the newspapers. They write what sells as well as a few truths now and then. But, how do we know when they are telling the truth. A lot of my friends don't understand why I do not read newspapers or watch the news on T.V. Until I explain how they lie and how hard it is sometimes to try to figure out what is truth and what is lies.  Yes Mark is crazy for taking a life! But what I think is crazier is the fact that he has been up for payroll several times. WHY? This is my opinon, John was being harassed by the F.B.I (that is fact). He was not a U.S. Citizen and they wanted to deport him. I think for that reason, Mark was not given life at that time. If it had been Elvis, he would have been given life without possibility of parole or death.  I feel for Julian and Sean having to read unkind and UNTRUE remarks about their father. They have had to endure a lot over the years. And that is a tragedy! One thing that gives me some peace is the fact that Chapman has to spend his time alone. The prison feels he would be in danger from John's and Beatle fans of losing his life. I can't help but feel if he ever gets out of prison the same would happen to him on the outside. I am not a violent person, but.....he did it once, would he do it again?

He idolized The Catcher In The Rye, and wanted to rebel against society and the norm such as John Lennon who was so well-known and loved, even though he himself actually liked him. He was being hypocritical like the protagonist Holden, and adopted a similar attitude towards the world, though to a greater extreme (indeed). I think he used his obsession with the book to fuel his unusual desire to kill Lennon.

He was declared to be mentally ill . 

I think he shot him because hes crazy

Because he was a nutcase. I wish John Lennon was still alive.

He should rot in the fiery depths of hell.

I think it was because mark david was so obsessed with him that he wanted to kill him and actually be john lennon.killed him to be him-d baby

And David Chapman thought John Lennon was a hypocrite. Lennon spoke of having no possessions...and all we need is love...yet he did everything he could to keep the royalties from his songs from being taxed

Because he was a sick man.

He killed him because he wasn't a christain and when chapman was younger he told his grandma he wouldn't believe in anyone but god and jesus ,but he believed in john more so he was mad at him and at john so killed him