In The Outsiders , three major characters die:

• Bob Sheldon : A Soc who is killed by Johnny Cade in self-defense when Bob and other Socs attack Ponyboy and Johnny

• Johnny Cade : He dies in the hospital from severe injuries sustained while saving children from a burning church. Johnny breaks his back and suffers third-degree burns during the rescue

• Dallas "Dally" Winston : After Johnny's death, Dally, deeply affected, robs a grocery store and is confronted by police. He pulls out an unloaded gun, prompting the police to shoot and kill him. His death is often interpreted as a form of suicide by cop

These deaths are pivotal to the story, deeply impacting the remaining characters and the narrative's themes of loyalty, loss, and the struggle between social groups