On December 8, 1980, musician John Lennon was shot and killed outside his residence at the Dakota in New York City. The former Beatle had been living in the United States for much of the 1970s and had recently returned to public music-making with a new album. His murder shocked fans around the world and led to large gatherings in New York and other cities. The crime prompted renewed debates in the United States about gun control, celebrity obsession, and mental health. Lennon’s legacy as a songwriter and peace activist remained strong in American popular culture. Vigils in Central Park and elsewhere became yearly tributes on the anniversary of his death.
