Here are all the characters Rick Grimes has killed on The Walking Dead. From season 1 until partway through season 9, Andrew Lincoln's Rick was the protagonist of The Walking Dead and the undisputed leader of the show's main survivor group. In this position, Rick was forced to take extreme measures in order to protect his family and friends, leaving a considerable amount of blood on his hands. While some of Rick's kills were in self-defense, others were precautionary, acts of vengeance or merciful.
Like many long-serving characters in The Walking Dead, Rick would flick between ruthlessness and a more civilized philosophy designed to capture a semblance of normality in the zombie apocalypse. Ultimately, it was this more peaceful approach that won out in the end when Rick decided to spare Negan and work alongside the remaining Saviors. Nevertheless, Rick has killed plenty of others in his time. These are all the Walking Dead characters taken out by Rick, restricted to those alive at the time (otherwise this would go on forever) and for whom Rick was directly responsible for killing.
- Dave & Tony (season 2, "Nebraska") - The first humans Rick kills are Dave and Tony, two strangers encountered in an abandoned bar. After the pair reveal their intention to take Hershel's farm by force, Rick has to shoot them both.
- Shane Walsh (season 2, "Better Angels") - With resentment boiling over, Shane plots to kill Rick but Rick gets there first, stabbing his former best friend.
- Tomas (season 3, "Sick") - Tomas, a resident of season 3's prison, tried to kill Rick. Sheriff Grimes returned the favor with a hefty machete blow.
- At least 3 Woodbury fighters (season 3, "Made To Suffer") - During Rick's attack on Woodbury, he explicitly shoots 3 enemies. However, the shooter isn't always clear, meaning Rick's count here could be higher.
- Lou (season 4, "Claimed") - The Claimers begin looting Rick, Carl and Michonne's temporary shelter. After running into Lou on the toilet, Rick strangles the invader.
- Joe & Dan (season 4, "A") - In revenge for Lou, The Claimers capture Rick. They threaten to kill him and Daryl after raping Carl and Michonne. At this, Rick bites through Joe's neck and stabs Dan.
- The Terminus Butchers & 5 others (season 5, "No Sanctuary") - As in Woodbury, Rick's kill count gets messy at Terminus. He definitely stabs the two butchers responsible for carving up the cannibals' dinner, then stabs one Termite from behind and shoots 4 others immediately after.
- Gareth & another Termite (season 5, "Four Walls & A Roof") - When Gareth catches up with Rick after Terminus, Lincoln's character exacts brutal justice. He also shoots at least one of Gareth's lackeys, Mike and Albert, but it's also possible one was killed by Sasha.
- Bob Lamson (season 5, "Coda") - Although not an outright villain, Bob was part of the Grady Memorial Hospital group who captured Beth. Rick was willing to work with Bob, but when the latter escaped, Rick ran him over and shot him.
- Pete Anderson (season 5, "Conquer") - Pete was a resident of Alexandria and the abusive partner of Jessie. Jealous of the community's newcomers, he tries to kill Rick but accidentally slices Reg Monroe instead. Deanna orders Rick to execute Pete.
- Carter (season 6, " First Time Again") - An Alexandrian who gets bit while trying to fend off a herd. Rick gives him a merciful, quick death.
- 5 Wolves (season 6, "Thank You") - Ambushed in an RV, Rick shoots 2 Wolves inside the vehicle with his revolver and 3 on the outside with a machine gun.
- Ethan (season 6, "Knots Untie") - Ethan was a Hilltop resident ordered by Negan to kill Gregory. Rick put a stop to that, stabbing Ethan's neck after a short fight.
- 4 Saviors (season 6, "Not Tomorrow Yet") - During the satellite assault, Rick stabs one Savior in the head while they're sleeping and shoots 3 more on a staircase.
- Primo (season 6, "The Same Boat") - Rick planned to use Primo as a bargaining chip with the Saviors, but when the deal proved unnecessary, Primo was swiftly killed.
- Jiro (season 6, "East") - After taking a bullet from Carol, a badly wounded Jiro is found by Rick and Morgan, with the Alexandria leader finishing this Savior off.
- 4 Scavengers (season 7, "The First Day of the Rest of your Life") - After being betrayed by the Scavengers, Rick manages to shoot 4 when a battle breaks out in Alexandria.
- Savior Guard (season 8 "Mercy") - A somewhat contentious example, Rick deliberately uses a zombie to kill this guard, chopping the creature loose from a post. This is different to other examples where Rick has caused enemies to get eaten and was clearly intended as an execution.
- Gracie's Dad (season 8, "The Damned") - During a major assault on a Savior compound, Rick gets into a scrap with an unnamed man, whose head he rams into an exposed wall bracket. Finding the man had a baby daughter, Rick takes the child.
- Yago (season 8 "The Big Scary U") - Rick stabs this Savior while wrestling for control of a truck.
- Reilly (season 8 "Still Gotta Mean Something") - Although Reilly captures Rick and Morgan, he considers leaving the Saviors and unties his hostages so they can fight an oncoming horde together. Rick quickly rescinds his promise and attacks Reilly, finishing him off with a bullet after the battle.
- Around 18 more Unnamed Saviors - Between seasons 6 and 8, Rick kills numerous other Saviors during his ongoing conflict with Negan, some more obvious than others.
The Walking Dead season 10 is currently on hiatus.