Who kills Jay Gatsby?

George Wilson kills Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby.

After Myrtle Wilson is struck and killed by Gatsby’s yellow car, George becomes consumed by grief and suspicion. Tom Buchanan tells him that Gatsby owns the car, leading George to believe that Gatsby was both Myrtle’s lover and the person responsible for her death.

The crucial detail is that Daisy Buchanan was driving when Myrtle ran into the road. Gatsby chooses to protect Daisy by taking responsibility for the accident and remaining at his mansion instead of leaving town. George later finds Gatsby floating in his swimming pool and shoots him before taking his own life.

Readers sometimes confuse George Wilson with Tom Buchanan because Tom sets the final chain of events in motion. Tom does not kill Gatsby directly, however; George is the gunman. Gatsby’s death also exposes the carelessness of the wealthy characters, since Daisy and Tom retreat from the consequences while Gatsby and George die.