Billy the Kid

Known by many names, including William Henry McCarthy and William H. Bonney, he became best known as Billy the Kid. Born in New York City in 1859, he found infamy in the Old West as a hired gun, outlaw, and otherwise stone-cold killer. After his mother died in 1874 when he was 14, he spent the next year in foster homes. In 1875 he was caught stealing clothing from a Chinese laundry, fled town, and began a career as a roving ranch hand, gambler, and gang member. He first earned a reputation as a gunslinger in 1878 when he took part in a bloody frontier war in Lincoln County, NM, joined a vigilante group called the Regulators, and was charged with the murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady. Pursued by Sheriff Pat Garrett, he sought refuge with friends in Fort Sumner, NM. On the night of July 14, 1881, Garrett went to the home of rancher Peter Maxwell to question him about Billy's whereabouts. After Maxwell was awakened, Billy also approached the house, suspicious of one of Garrett's deputies on the porch. He backed into Maxwell's darkened room shouting, "Who's that?" Recognizing his voice, Garrett drew his gun and fired two rounds; one bullet struck the 21-year-old near his heart, killing him instantly.

New Mexico · United States