View source for Frisco shootout

{{Short description|1884 Old West gunfight in New Mexico}}
{{Infobox historical event
  |Event_Name     = Frisco shootout
  |Image_Name     = Frisco store.jpg
  |Imagesize      = 300px
  |Image_Alt      = 
  |Image_Caption  = The Frisco Store in Lower Frisco Plaza.
  |Thumb_Time     = 
  |AKA            = 
  |Participants   = [[Elfego Baca]]
  |Location       = [[Reserve, New Mexico|Reserve]], [[New Mexico Territory]], [[United States]]
  |Date           = December 1–2, 1884
  |nongregorian   = 
  |Deaths        = 4
  | injuries    = 8
  |Result         = [[Cowboy]]s retreat
  |URL            = 
}}

The '''Frisco shootout''' was an [[Old West]] [[gunfighter|gunfight]] that began on December 1, 1884, involving [[law enforcement|lawman]] [[Elfego Baca]]. The shootout happened in [[Reserve, New Mexico]], and stemmed from Baca's arrest of a [[cowboy]], Charlie McCarty, who had been shooting into the air and into buildings at random while intoxicated.

==Shootout==
Shortly after the arrest was made, Baca was confronted by a large number of the cowboy's friends. Baca took refuge in the house of local resident Geronimo Armijo. An intense shootout ensued, during which the cowboys increased in number to around eighty men. [[Legend]] has it that the cowboys fired more than 4,000 rounds into the house, but there is little way of confirming just how many rounds were fired exactly. Baca was not wounded by any of the rounds fired, but did return fire killing four of the cowboys, and wounding eight others. The standoff ended when the cowboys were unable to acquire more ammunition. With their ammunition supply depleted, they simply withdrew. The fight had lasted thirty-six hours.

Charlie McCarty served his time in [[jail]] for disturbing the peace and drunkenness, and was released. The cowboys pursued Baca through legal means, attempting to have him imprisoned for the killing of their four comrades. In May 1885, Baca was [[indicted]] for the killing of one of the men. However, when the door of Geronimo Armijo's house was introduced as evidence, having over four hundred bullet holes in it, Baca was [[acquitted]]. He went on to become a licensed [[Lawyer|attorney]] and a [[US Marshal|Deputy US Marshal]].

==Memorial project==
On May 24, 2008, the Elfego Baca Foundation opened a memorial at 101 Main St [[Reserve, New Mexico]],<ref> [https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7128048,-108.757909,3a,15y,300.36h,85.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1dHglbG4P2p3jXgBQpZyLg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en Apr 2021 google maps Street View 33.7128048,-108.757909 ]</ref> in honor of Baca.<ref>[http://www.catroncitizens.org/projects.htm "Projects"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703204337/http://www.catroncitizens.org/projects.htm |date=July 3, 2008 }}, Catron Concerned Citizens Group. Retrieved 8/24/08.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nm/frisco.html Frisco, New Mexico]. GhostTowns.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160807083855/http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-elfegobaca.html Elfego Baca & The “Frisco War”]. Legends of America website.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928202550/http://www.thewesternweb.com/old-west/the-frisco-shootout-old-west-series/ Western Web]. Archived from 2007
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061223044820/http://www.hiltonopen.com/Elfego0401.htm Elfego Baca]
* [http://epcc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=309255&sid=2604128 Borderlands]
	
{{Template group
|title = Articles related to the Frisco shootout
|list  =
{{Catron County}}
{{Gunfights and feuds in the Old West}}
{{American frontier}}
}}

[[Category:1884 in New Mexico Territory]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1884]]
[[Category:History of Catron County, New Mexico]]
[[Category:American Old West gunfights]]
[[Category:December 1884]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in New Mexico]]