A Provocative Mystery: How Did This Arizona Gunslinger REALLY Die?

You can't visit the historic Old West town of Tombstone without hearing whispers of Johnny Ringo, the infamous gunslinger with a Shakespearean streak and a reputation as “King of the Cowboys.”

Even if you've never been to the storied town, you've probably seen at least one movie that touches on the most famous thirty seconds in history, when Ringo's gang tangled in the famous incident that led straight to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Gunfight Somewhere NEAR the OK Corral: Is It All a Hollywood LIE?

Who Was Johnny Ringo?

Johnny Ringo wasn’t actually at the infamous shootout in 1881, but he was deeply entrenched in the events surrounding it. Ringo was both feared and respected around Tombstone.

Get our free mobile app

He was linked to the infamous Cochise County Cowboys. While Ringo may not have been at the fight in person, he was deeply entwined in the feud between the rogue gang and the Earps.

Johnny Ringo wasn’t your typical Wild West outlaw. Ringo had a reputation for being moody, intelligent, and oddly poetic. He could quote Shakespeare and had a flair for using dramatic language. He was also described as a hard-drinking loner.

Ringo was well known for his brooding demeanor and was certainly not your typical Old West outlaw. He once shot a man simply for preferring beer over whiskey.

Tombstone Courthouse: Gallows, Guns, and Legends

The Final Days of Johnny Ringo

The life of Johnny Ringo was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Even still, it's Ringo's mysterious death that keeps him in the crosshairs of historians.

On July 14, 1882, Ringo was found dead under an oak tree in Turkey Creek Canyon with a bullet wound to the head, his revolver still in hand.

Theories Behind His Death

Speculation swirled. Was it suicide, as the coroner ruled? With his penchant for the dramatic, Ringo's rather Shakespearian demise seems right on brand. Eyewitnesses reported that Ringo had been drinking heavily and allegedly spoke of impending doom.

Exploring The Dark History Of Brunckow Cabin In Arizona

Others think he may have been dispatched by none other than Doc Holliday or Wyatt Earp, who likely tracked him down to exact revenge. Others believe the blame lies with a third party, possibly someone like Buckskin Frank Leslie, who may have been the one to pull the trigger.

Why Johnny Ringo’s Legend Endures

Whatever the truth, Johnny Ringo’s legend lives on. This little slice of Old West history checks the boxes: equal parts outlaw, poet, and mystery, and one for the annals of Tombstone lore. A story, and a mystery, like Tombstone itself, is a story that never truly dies.

Sources: National Park Service | Wikipedia | Atlas Obscura |

Photo of Johnny Ringo: 19th century photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia

Commons