A white button down shirt worn by a concierge at the Dakota apartment building in New York City where John Lennon was fatally shot was recently purchased at auction for $40,819.
Worn and owned by Jay Hastings during the fatal moment, the shirt was soaked with Lennon’s blood after Hastings rushed to his aid. Hastings was on duty on December 8, 1980, when Lennon was shot by deranged fan Mark Chapman as he and wife Yoko Ono were coming home.
Lennon was shot twice in the back and twice in the shoulder, staggering into the entrance where Hastings covered the legendary Beatle with his suit jacket. Blood from the wounded singer seeped into the shirt on the chest and sleeves.
The shirt was originally expected to sell for about $9,000. The auction sale also included a copy of the album Double Fantasy, which includes a handwritten message that reads: “To Jay, Love John Lennon Yoko Ono.”
The buyer also purchased a 1978 Thanksgiving card from Lennon, complete with a doodle and Lennon’s signature, and a typed letter from Ono thanking the staff of the building for their help two weeks after his death.
