Music Icon Succumbs to Fatal Shooting in New York City Yesterday
December 8th marks a significant day in history, with several notable events occurring on this date. In 1941, the United States officially entered World War II, declaring war on Imperial Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. This marked a pivotal moment in the war.
On this day in 1980, a tragic event occurred in New York City, as rock star John Lennon was fatally shot outside his apartment building. The incident was carried out by Mark David Chapman.
In other historical events, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed a treaty in 1987, aimed at destroying intermediate-range missiles. Additionally, in 2012, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel made history by becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.
Today also marks the birthday of several notable individuals, including flutist James Galway, who turns 86, and actor Kim Basinger, who celebrates her 72nd birthday. Other celebrities born on this day include author Bill Bryson, commentator Ann Coulter, and singer Nicki Minaj.
In recent years, December 8th has also been marked by significant events, including the end of the U.S. and NATO’s combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014. In 2022, WNBA star Brittney Griner was released from detention in Russia as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States.
The day also honors the memory of American hero John Glenn, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 95, and marks the completion of the insurgency’s occupation of the Syrian capital of Damascus in 2024.