Mark David Chapman On Choosing Hollow Point Bullets To Shoot Lennon: "They Were More Deadly"

Jen Carlson

Published Aug 29, 2012

Modified Aug 29, 2012

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Jen Carlson

Published Aug 29, 2012

Modified Aug 29, 2012

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Last week John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, was denied parole for the seventh time, to no one's surprise. Today the Department of Corrections has released the transcript from this latest hearing, which has Chapman retelling the story of Lennon's murder once again. Here are some excerpts, which are no less haunting to read even 32 years later.

"The bullets I got in Atlanta when I flew New York to Atlanta to see an old friend who was a police officer and I told him I needed the bullets... I didn't tell him what I was going to do." When asked why he chose hollow point, Chapman responds, "Because they were more deadly."
"I've read since that time that I said, 'Mr. Lennon,' but I did not say that. I just shot him."
"He was very kind to me... very kind and very patient. Very cordial and very decent man."
"There was a struggle for a while there, you know, what am I doing here, leave now. It wasn't all cold-blooded, but most of it was. I did try to tell myself to leave. I've got the album, take it home, show my wife, everything will be fine. But I was so compelled to commit that murder that nothing would have dragged me away from that building."
"There was a scream. I still don't know who made that scream, but there was a scream."
"The doorman, Jose... he was crying... he asked me to leave, please leave. He was very frightened and crying."
On carrying The Catcher In The Rye with him: "At that time, there was a great significance. I identified with the book. I identified with the character, who seemed to be lost and troubled. And in my state of mind at the time, I kind of felt I was him. And so, that book was like saying, this is me and I wanted people to read it and it was a confusing time for me."

You can read the full 39 pages below, which includes details of the murder, Chapman's post-prison plans should he ever get out, and conjugal visits with his wife.

Mark Chapman 2012

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john lennon

mark david chapman

parole

transcript