John Lennon's killer has failed in his fifth attempt to be paroled on Tuesday. Mark David Chapman will remain behind bars for at least two more years for assassinating the former Beatle almost 28 years ago.

Chapman, 53, has been in prison since he admitted to murdering Lennon, which he said it was an act meant to bring him notoriety. According to the parole board, the singer’s murder was "a horrendously tragic event which has impacted many individuals.” The assassin first became eligible for parole in 2000 after serving the first 20 years of a maximum life sentence.

According to the one-page statement released by New York State Division of Parole, the man’s request for parole was rejected "due to concern for the public safety and welfare." Therefore, he will remain imprisoned in New York's Attica Correctional Facility, in close proximity to Rochester, New York.

The board members recognized that, for the past 14 years, Chapman had a good behavior while incarcerated. However, he is still regarded as a threat to people and, in consequence, cannot be paroled.

"Your conduct thus precipitated a horrendously tragic event which has impacted many individuals," Chapman was told during his parole interview. "Your discretionary release at this time would thus not be compatible with the welfare of society at large, and would tend to deprecate the seriousness of the instant offense, and undermine respect for the law."

On Dec. 8, 1980, after planning the rock icon’s murder “with essentially a clear mind” – as Chapman confessed – he opened fire at Lennon on the sidewalk in front of the singer’s public housing. As the victim was just arriving home together with his wife, Yoko Ono, the gunman hit him four times.

When learning that Chapman could be released on parole, John Lennon’s fans couldn’t remain impassive. A petition with an estimated 1,100 signatures and about 50 letters opposing the man’s release have been sent to the board members, said Heather Groll, spokeswoman for the New York State Division of Parole. Up till now, only three letters supporting his release have been sent.

Not at all surprisingly, Yoko Ono opposed Chapman’s release over and over again and suggested that the perpetrator should remain incarcerated for the rest of his life. "Myself and John's two sons would not feel safe for the rest of out lives," Lennon’s widow wrote 8 years ago in a letter.

Apart from this denial, David Chapman was also denied parole in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. His next appearance before the board is scheduled to take place in August 2010.

According to Erik Kriss, spokesman for the New York State Department of Correctional Services, the killer is detained in a special building, separated from the general prison population, where the other inmates are not considered to pose a threat to him.

For the past 16 years, Chapman was allowed to receive conjugal visits from his wife, as part of the prison’s "family reunion" that gives inmates the right to spend up to 44 hours at a time with family members in a special location.