In The Outsiders , three major characters die:

• Bob Sheldon : A Soc who is killed by Johnny Cade during an altercation when Bob and his friends attack Ponyboy and Johnny. Johnny kills Bob to protect Ponyboy from drowning

• Johnny Cade : He dies in the hospital from severe injuries sustained while rescuing children from a burning church. A piece of the roof falls on his back, breaking it, and despite medical efforts, he succumbs to his injuries

• Dallas "Dally" Winston : After Johnny's death, Dally becomes distraught and robs a grocery store. When the police corner him, he pulls out an unloaded gun, leading them to shoot and kill him. It is implied that Dally may have wanted to die, as he knew the gun was empty and was acting out of grief

These deaths are pivotal to the story and deeply affect the remaining characters, especially Ponyboy and the Greaser gang