Mark David Chapman (born May 10, 1955) is an incarcerated American who murdered former Beatles member John Lennon in New York City on December 8, 1980. As Lennon walked into the archway of his apartment at The Dakota, Chapman fired five shots at Lennon from a few yards away with a Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special revolver. Lennon was hit four times from the back. Chapman remained at the scene reading J. D. Salinger's novel "The Catcher in the Rye" until he was arrested by police. He planned to cite the novel as his manifesto.