On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot outside his Dakota apartment building in New York City. His wife, Yoko Ono, was by his side as the unimaginable happened. Going home that evening, Mark David Chapman fired four shots at Lennon, killing one of the most influential figures in music.
Police arrived minutes later, and instead of waiting for an ambulance, officers brought Lennon to Roosevelt Hospital in the back of a squad car. Ono followed in a separate vehicle, unaware that she was about to receive the news that would shatter her world forever.
New book about Yoko Ono and John Lennon relives the devastating moment
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A soon-to-be-released book about John Lennon explores the harrowing moment Yoko Ono realized her husband was gone. In an emotional retelling, author David Sheff recounts how Ono pleaded with doctors to tell her that Lennon was still alive. When they could not, she refused to believe it until a nurse handed her his wedding ring, and that was when reality hit.
As Ono processed her grief, a new fear set in about how to protect their young son, Sean, from learning the news through television reports. She begged hospital staff to delay the announcement of Lennon’s death so she could get home and tell Sean herself. The book captures her heartbreak, her strength, and the immediate steps she took to shield their child.
Yoko Ono’s life changed forever
Returning to the Dakota, Ono faced the unimaginable. She broke the news to family and close friends, struggling to grasp that the love of her life was gone. She was overwhelmed with sorrow and isolated herself in her bedroom, sorting out the magnitude of her loss. The world mourned with her, but the pain was hers to bear alone.
While Lennon’s death marked the end of an era, Ono carried on his legacy. Her resilience, as documented in the book, shows not just a woman in mourning but an artist, mother, and activist who was able to preserve Lennon’s spirit through music, art, and activism.