After murdering a blacksmith during an altercation in August 1877, Bonney became a wanted man in Arizona Territory and returned to New Mexico, where he joined a group of cattle rustlers.
Tras asasinar un ferreiro nun altercado en agosto de 1877, Bonney pasou a ser un home buscado en Arizona e volveu a Novo México, onde se uniu a un grupo de ladróns de gando.