Did Billy The Kid Really Kill 21 Men? Every Confirmed Kill By The Real Western Outlaw Explained

As depicted in the MGM series Billy the Kid, the mythical legend of William H. Bonney is made up of historical events, half-truths, and general misconceptions about the Old West outlaw. While William H. Bonney did exist and take part in the infamous Lincoln County War in 1878, the gunslinger’s real name was Henry McCarty. McCarty eventually harnessed a reputation of being a notorious criminal and murderer, presumed to be responsible for the deaths of 21 men during his 21-year life. It seems that the truth of Billy the Kid’s actual kill count has been distorted due to his larger-than-life folk tale.