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At 22:50 the Lennons limousine pulles up outside the Dakota and Jose Perdomo the doorman leaves his post to open the car doors for them. Yoko gets out first. She is followed closely by her husband, who is carrying a tape recorder and some cassettes. As Yoko passes him the killer says "Hello". Lennon gives the guy a long, hard look. As John passes him, the man steps back and pulles a snubnosed .38 revolver from his pocket. He drops into combat stance, with knees flexed, arms outstreched and one arm supporting the other at the wrist.

As John turnes, the guy fires two shots into him. They catch him in the back, spinning him round. Blood already starts spurting from Lennons wounds as the assassin takes aim again. He fires three more shots. Two bullet smashes into Johns shoulder, the other goes astray. Theres a crash of shattering glass as the slugs, that had passed through Johns body smash into the Dakotas glass frontage. Mortally wounded John staggers up the steps into the Dakotas front lobby, his face horribly conturted.

He moans as he fells to the floor. Johns been shot! screams Yoko, who follows her husband into the hotel.Jay Hastings the security man reaches under his desk and presses the alarm button, which summones the police from the nearby 20th Precinct Station. After this, he rushes to Johns side and removes his shattered glasses. Then he takes off his uniform to cover the victim.He wants to use his tie as a tourniquet, but can not decide where to apply it. John is dying, blood pours from his chest and mouth, his eyes are open but unfocused, he is gurgling and vomiting blood.