Kara Sears
In the first episode of Yellowstone, Kayce Dutton kills his brother-in-law, Robert Long, who is also his wife Monica's brother. The killing occurs during a shootout over livestock between the Duttons and the Broken Rock Indians, who had stolen cattle from the Yellowstone ranch. After Robert shoots Kayce's brother, Lee Dutton, Kayce shoots Robert, killing him. While Kayce does not directly kill his brother, his presence instigates the gunfight that leads to Lee's death. Although it is unclear whether Kayce goes to jail for the killing, it is considered self-defence as Robert tried to shoot at Kayce first.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of character | Kayce Dutton |
| Name of brother-in-law | Robert Long |
| Name of Kayce's wife | Monica Dutton |
| Name of Kayce's son | Tate |
| Name of Kayce's brother | Lee Dutton |
| Reason for Kayce killing his brother-in-law | Self-defence |
| Number of shots fired at Robert | 4 or 5 |
| Kayce went to jail | No |
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What You'll Learn
- Kayce kills his brother-in-law, Robert Long, in self-defence
- Robert fatally shoots Kayce's brother, Lee Dutton
- Kayce's wife, Monica, forgives him for killing her brother
- Kayce's presence instigates the gunfight that leads to Lee's death
- Kayce's killing of Robert is seen as a possible way to attack the Dutton family
Kayce kills his brother-in-law, Robert Long, in self-defence
Kayce Dutton's peaceful life at the Broken Rock Reservation is disrupted when a herd of his family's cattle wanders onto the reservation land. The tribe's chairman, Thomas Rainwater, claims the cattle for the tribe, leading to a conflict between the Duttons and the tribe.
During a nocturnal firefight between reservation law enforcement and the Livestock Association Agents, led by Kayce's father and brother, Robert Long, Kayce's brother-in-law, fatally shoots Kayce's brother, Lee. As Robert prepares to shoot Lee again, Kayce kicks him and they exchange gunfire. Kayce ultimately kills Robert in self-defence, shooting him four or five times in the chest and then in the head as a possible mercy killing.
Following the killings, Kayce, his wife Monica (Robert's sister), and their son Tate briefly stay on the Yellowstone Ranch to avoid hostile reactions on the reservation. Despite the tragic circumstances, Kayce and Monica's marriage remains intact, with Monica understanding why her brother was killed. The couple eventually returns to the Broken Rock Reservation before settling back at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, where Kayce works to rebuild his relationship with his family.
Although Kayce does not go to jail for killing Robert, he feels some responsibility for his brother's death, as his presence instigated the gunfight and distracted Lee during a crucial moment. Kayce's actions continue to weigh on him, influencing his spiritual awakening in the season four finale.
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Robert fatally shoots Kayce's brother, Lee Dutton
In the first episode of Yellowstone, Robert Long, Kayce Dutton's brother-in-law, fatally shoots Kayce's brother, Lee Dutton. Lee, the eldest son of John Dutton, was leading a group of ranch hands and Livestock Agents to reclaim cattle stolen from the Yellowstone Ranch. The group tracked the cattle to the Broken Rock Reservation, where Kayce was living at the time. As the folks from the reservation tried to fend off the intruders, a gunfight broke out. During the chaos, Lee realised that Kayce was working against him. Before Lee could flee, he was shot by Robert.
Robert was about to fire another shot at Lee when Kayce rode in on horseback, kicking Robert to the ground. Robert then tried to shoot Kayce, but his gun jammed. Kayce scrambled for Lee's gun and fired at Robert, killing him. Although Kayce did not directly kill his brother, his presence instigated the gunfight that led to Lee's death. Kayce's wife, Monica, understood why her brother was killed and wanted to ensure her husband didn't go to prison for Robert's murder.
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Kayce's wife, Monica, forgives him for killing her brother
Kayce Dutton's life at the Broken Rock Reservation is threatened when his father and brother arrive to reclaim their cattle, which had been stolen by members of the Broken Rock Indians. During a skirmish, Kayce's brother-in-law, Robert, fatally shoots Kayce's brother, Lee. Kayce is forced to shoot Robert dead.
Kayce, his wife Monica, and their son Tate briefly stay on the Yellowstone Ranch to avoid hostile reactions on the reservation after the killings. Monica is heartbroken at the death of her brother but understands why he was killed. She forgives Kayce and is desperate to ensure he doesn't go to prison for Robert's murder.
Kayce and Monica's relationship has been tested by the events, but they have managed to stay together, standing by each other no matter what. They grow closer when they lose their second son after Monica is involved in a car crash, burying the baby in the ranch's family cemetery following Native American traditions.
Despite having friends and family on the reservation, Kayce is seen as an outsider. He chooses to live in the bunkhouse and work his way back into the family ranch, where he becomes a reliable rancher.
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Kayce's presence instigates the gunfight that leads to Lee's death
Kayce Dutton's presence at the scene of the gunfight between the Broken Rock Reservation and the Yellowstone Ranch instigates the events that lead to his brother Lee's death. Lee, the eldest son of John Dutton, leads a group of ranch hands and Livestock Agents to the Broken Rock Reservation to reclaim cattle stolen from the Yellowstone Ranch. The group tracks down the cattle to the reservation, where Kayce is living with his wife Monica and son Tate.
Kayce's loyalties are divided, as he had previously left his family to marry Monica, a Broken Rock Indian. He now finds himself caught between his wife's family and his own. As the situation escalates, Kayce ends up fighting on behalf of Monica's family, trying to keep the cattle on their side. Lee soon realizes that Kayce is working against him, and as he tries to flee, he is shot by Robert Long, Kayce's brother-in-law.
In the chaos of the gunfight, Kayce rides past Robert and kicks him to stop him from executing Lee. Robert then tries to shoot Kayce, but Kayce is quicker and shoots Robert dead. Lee also dies from his wounds, devastating the Dutton family. Although Kayce did not directly kill his brother, his presence at the scene and his divided loyalties inadvertently contributed to the tragic outcome.
Kayce, Monica, and their son briefly remain on the Broken Rock Reservation but eventually leave, settling back at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Kayce chooses to live in the bunkhouse and work his way back into the family, dealing with his personal life and his relationship with Monica. Despite the tragic events, Monica stands by her husband, and the couple grows closer as they face their challenges together.
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Kayce's killing of Robert is seen as a possible way to attack the Dutton family
Kayce Dutton's killing of his brother-in-law, Robert Long, is a complex and pivotal moment in the Yellowstone storyline, with some suggesting it could be used as a way to attack the Dutton family. Leading up to the incident, Kayce had settled on the Broken Rock Reservation with his wife Monica Dutton, who is a Broken Rock Indian, and their son Tate. Kayce's decision to start a new life with Monica had caused a rift between him and his family, particularly his father, John Dutton.
The situation escalated when a herd of the Duttons' cattle wandered onto reservation land, and the tribe's chairman, Thomas Rainwater, claimed them for the tribe. This resulted in a nocturnal firefight between reservation law enforcement and the Livestock Association Agents, led by John and his eldest son, Lee Dutton. During the skirmish, Robert, who was also a military veteran, fatally shot Lee. Kayce, caught between his loyalties to his birth family and his wife's family, intervened to stop Robert from shooting again, kicking him down. In response, Robert attempted to shoot Kayce but was unsuccessful, and Kayce shot and killed him.
The killing of Robert by Kayce is seen as a potential vulnerability for the Duttons, as it could be used against them by their enemies. This is especially true given the absence of witnesses and the potential for ballistics evidence to implicate Kayce. However, it's important to note that Kayce's actions could also be interpreted as self-defence or justifiable given the circumstances.
Following the incident, Kayce, Monica, and Tate briefly stayed on the Yellowstone Ranch to avoid any hostile reactions on the reservation due to the killings caused by the cattle dispute. Eventually, they returned to the Dutton Ranch, where Kayce worked to rebuild his relationship with his family and became a reliable rancher. Despite this, Kayce continued to grapple with his past actions and their moral implications, indicating a complex character with a personal code of ethics.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kayce killed his wife Monica's brother, Robert Long.
Robert Long shot Kayce's brother, Lee Dutton, and was about to shoot again when Kayce shot him.
No, Kayce did not go to jail for killing Robert.
Yes, some viewers consider the killing to be self-defence as Robert had shot Lee and was reaching for another gun to shoot Kayce.
