John Lennon's residence's former doorman recalls the fateful night when he was shot dead by Mark David Chapman

December 8, 1980, remains a dark day for music enthusiasts especially the fans of the Beatles. The founder, co-songwriter, co-vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the band, John Lennon was shot dead on this day at 10:50 pm in front of his apartment building Dakota by Mark David Chapman. Now, the former doorman of the building recalls that fateful night.

Dakota's former doorman recalls the night John Lennon was shot

Jay Hastings who was working as a doorman when the incident took place 43 years ago. Talking to People about the same, he said, “I remember everything like it was yesterday.” He recalled his then-colleague at Dakota, Jose finding Lennon first after the latter was shot dead. He added, “I could hear Jose outside, 'Oh Mr. Lennon.' Boom, boom, doors close and I could hear the quick march of heels coming up the driveway. So I walked over to the counter, where there was a hidden security button to unlock the door, so you could get into the Dakota proper."

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John Lennon's immediate reaction when he was shot

Recalling first witnessing the horrifying visual of the ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ singer, Hastings added, “As I was there with my finger on the button is when he [Lennon] came running up, immediately after hearing gunshots, and he's like, 'I'm shot, I'm shot' and he just ran past me to the back office, and just collapsed." However, Jay confessed that he did not realize how seriously was Lennon shot.

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He went on, “I didn't know how bad he was shot. I went into to the back office, Yoko [Ono, Lennon's wife] was there, like right behind him, screaming, 'Get an ambulance. Get an ambulance.” He further remembered that the other doorman Jose had “already pushed the panic button that was in the doorman's booth, and that just overwhelms the outgoing line with a constant message to the police, pre-recorded."

John was rushed to the Roosevelt Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Jay had found Chapman still outside Dakota reading something until the police authority arrested him. Currently, Mark is serving 20 years of prison time for assassinating Lennon.