Mark David Chapman, the man who shot and killed former Beatle John Lennon nearly 30 years ago, will remain in prison after a parole board denied his request to be released.
The board made the decision after interviewing him by teleconference at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York.
After the decision, the board wrote to Chapman, saying it remains concerned about the “disregard” he had shown “for the norms of our society and the sanctity of human life” and that his release would be “incompatible with the welfare of the community.”
This was Chapman’s sixth appearance before the parole board. He’ll be eligible again in two years.
Among those who have opposed his release is Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, who said last month that she believed Chapman is a potential threat to her family and perhaps himself.
Lennon’s death was reported by Howard Cosell during a Monday Night Football telecast on December 8, 1980.
Cosell had interviewed Lennon nearly six years earlier on December 9, 1974 during halftime of a Monday Night Football game.
Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan was interviewed during halftime of the same game by Frank Gifford.
Reagan and Lennon sat in the “green” room during the first half of the game and the two of them got along well.
Lennon was so pleased with his experience during the MNF game, he sent a complete autographed collection of Beatles albums to Cosell and Gifford.
Watch this video of Howard Cosell’s interview with John Lennon during a Monday Night Football telecast in 1974, and then follow this link to watch the video of Cosell announcing Lennon’s death during a MNF game in 1980.
