Taxi driver Richard Peterson also witnessed the shooting from his cab parked at the curb.
“Lennon was walking in and this kid says, ‘John Lennon,’” Peterson recalled. “I’m looking at him shoot him. This guy just shot John Lennon. I thought they were making a movie, but there were no lights or cameras. I realized, ‘Hey, this ain’t no movie.’”
Chapman’s 14th Parole Denial and Stunning Admission
Chapman, now 70 and incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York, has been denied parole 14 times — most recently in August. His next hearing is scheduled for February 2027.
During the latest hearing, Chapman openly admitted he murdered to achieve notoriety.
“To be famous, to be something I wasn’t,” he said. “And then I just realized… I don’t have to die, and I can be a somebody. I had sunk that low.”
The parole board rejected his request, citing the senselessness of the crime and the enduring trauma inflicted on Lennon’s family, fans, and the global music community.
The Lasting Legacy of The Beatles
The documentary also reflects on the unparalleled musical legacy of The Beatles. Lennon and Paul McCartney formed one of the most celebrated songwriting duos in history, crafting timeless hits such as Eleanor Rigby, All You Need Is Love, Yellow Submarine, and Across the Universe.
