John Lennon was murdered outside The Dakota, his apartment building in Manhattan.
The Dakota is a historic cooperative apartment building at 1 West 72nd Street on New York City’s Upper West Side, beside Central Park. Lennon and Yoko Ono moved into the building in 1973, and it became closely associated with the final years of his life. Lennon was shot in the building’s entrance archway on December 8, 1980, as he and Ono returned from a recording session.
The killer, Mark David Chapman, had waited near the Dakota earlier that day. Lennon had signed a copy of Double Fantasy for Chapman before leaving the building. Chapman later remained outside until Lennon returned that evening.
The Dakota was already famous before the killing. Completed in 1884, it is known for its ornate architecture and prominent residents. It also served as an exterior filming location associated with Rosemary’s Baby. The common mix-up is saying Lennon was murdered inside his apartment; he was shot outside, at the Dakota’s entrance.