Billy the Kid’s Great Escape: The Legendary Shootout in Lincoln County

In 1881, Billy the Kid made a daring escape from the Lincoln County Courthouse in Lincoln, New Mexico. This jailbreak cemented the Kid as one of the most notorious outlaws of the Old West

This article originally appeared on the true crime newsletter Tales From the Underworld. Subscribe for new and exclusive historical true crime content.

Guest Post by Donna Patton

Depiction of Billy the Kid (Image generated via Midjourney)

Background

On April 28, 1881, one of the most infamous outlaws of the Wild West made one of the most dramatic jailbreaks in history. William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid, was being held in the Lincoln County Courthouse in New Mexico, awaiting execution, when a series of events allowed the Kid to escape and once again become one of the most wanted outlaws in the country.

Photo of Henry McCarty aka Billy the Kid (TSHA)

Becoming Billy the Kid