Ringo, who used several aliases at various times of his life, was born in Indiana. He later travelled to Texas, eventually making his way to Arizona. He also lived in Missouri for a short period of time.
It was generally believed for many years that Johnny Ringo was involved in the OK Corral gunfight, and that he shot Virgil Earp before being shot himself. However, when fact was separated from myth, the accepted history of the OK Corral Gunfight does not have Ringo physically present, though he was unquestionably involved in later fighting with the Earp faction.
Over the years people enjoyed debating whether or not Ringo had a role at the OK Corral. Some believe that Ringo could not have been at the area the day of the gun battle, because he (or someone who looked like him) was spotted in California that day. In the end, most witnesses agreed that Ringo was not present in Tombstone, or a participant at the shootout at the OK Corral. In addition to the dispute over the OK Corral, even Ringo's death brought controversy. Some people claimed his body was found shot between the eyes. Others say that Ringo's body had a bullet wound to the back of his head when he was found, which would indicate that Ringo may have been murdered without shooting at anyone himself. Yet others claim that Ringo actually committed suicide. The only undisputed facts around Ringo's death are these: he was supposed to fight Wyatt Earp the day he died, and before that fight could take place, John Ringo was found dead with a bullet wound to the head.
There is one version of the story that Wyatt Earp was recovering from injuries at a local hospital when he received a visit from old time friend Doc Holliday. Earp and Ringo were scheduled to carry a showdown once Earp left the hospital, but instead, Holliday stepped in for Earp and shot Ringo to death. This version was popularized by the 1993 film Tombstone, in which Ringo was played by Michael Biehn as a sadistic psychopath. There is little question that Earp was supposed to face Ringo, and that Ringo mysteriously died before this could take place. Whether Holliday killed him, or he killed himself, is unknown. Only one thing is certain: he was dead before he could face Earp. Holliday would never say whether he killed Ringo or not, though supposedly it was he who first suggested - with a smirk, the legend says - that Ringo killed himself.
Other suspects in the death of Ringo are Wyatt Earp himself, and Lou Cooley.
Johnny Ringo is buried exactly at the same spot where his body was found, on the West Turkey Creek Canyon. The place is currently a private area, and visitors must ask the owner first if they wish to visit Ringo's tomb.