Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 28, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
People File • Lawman

Pat Garrett

Pat Garrett was an American Old West lawman, cowboy, bartender, and customs agent best known for killing Billy the Kid in 1881.

Updated July 28, 20261 min readCited sources

Pat Garrett was an American Old West lawman best known for killing Billy the Kid in 1881. He served as sheriff in New Mexico and died in a shooting near Las Cruces in 1908.

Who was Pat Garrett?

Born in Alabama in 1850 and raised in Louisiana, Garrett headed west as a young man, working as a cowboy and buffalo hunter. He settled in New Mexico, where he became a lawman and served as sheriff of Lincoln County, later also holding the same office in Doña Ana County.

The Billy the Kid shooting

Garrett’s lasting fame comes from tracking down and shooting Billy the Kid at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in July 1881. The event made him one of the most recognized figures of the Old West, and he published an account of the capture and death the following year.

Death and legacy

Garrett died on February 29, 1908, near Las Cruces after being shot during a roadside incident. His life and death have been heavily retold in books and films, cementing his place in the mythology of the American West.

In short

  • Born in Alabama, raised in Louisiana, headed west as a young man.
  • Served as sheriff of Lincoln County and Doña Ana County in New Mexico.
  • Killed Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in July 1881.
  • Died from gunshot wounds near Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1908.

Quick questions

Who killed Billy the Kid?
Pat Garrett is generally credited with killing Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in July 1881.
How did Pat Garrett die?
He died from gunshot wounds near Las Cruces, New Mexico, on February 29, 1908.
Was Pat Garrett a sheriff?
Yes. He served as sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, and also as sheriff of Doña Ana County, New Mexico.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pat-Garrett
    Supports: Birth, death, occupation, and role in killing Billy the Kid.
  2. HISTORY — https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/july-14/billy-the-kid-is-shot-to-death
    Supports: Garrett shot and killed Billy the Kid in 1881.
  3. Library of Congress — https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2015/04/young-gun/
    Supports: Garrett published an account of Billy the Kid's apprehension and death in 1882.
  4. Legends of America — https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-patgarrett/
    Supports: Death, burial in Las Cruces, and coroner's finding about Garrett's death.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Garrett
    Supports: Sheriff roles, death by gunshot, and burial location details.