‘Dutton Ranch’ kills off a cowboy in latest episode of ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff

Warning: Spoilers ahead! Do not proceed unless you’ve watched “Dutton Ranch” episode 5, “Peaceful Find Peace.” 

Things are getting fatal on “Dutton Ranch.” 

In the fifth episode of the “Yellowstone” spinoff show, Carter (Finn Little) is distraught when his new friend, Dwight (Ray McKinnon), is killed. 

Carter is the adopted son of Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser). He’s been with the couple since the original “Yellowstone” series (created by Taylor Sheridan) and moved to Texas with them for the spinoff.

The 19-year-old is still in high school, but resents it. So, behind Beth and Rip’s backs, Carter secretly began skipping school to work for Dwight, an aging cowboy who likes to drink, nap and dish out advice.

Viewers learn that Dwight had a leopard in an enclosure on his property, which impressed another character, Oreana Jackson (played by Natalie Alyn Lind), when Carter invited his romantic interest over.

At one point in the latest episode, cops storm Dwight’s property as he and Carter attempt to run.

The cops used excessive force to tackle Carter — and kill Dwight. As Carter was pinned to the ground, he cried, seeing Dwight’s dead body.

“He had a knife,” Sheriff Wade (played by Josh Stewart) explained, justifying why the cops killed the cowboy.

However, it seems like they just came up with that reason as an excuse.

Later in the episode, Sheriff Wade brings Carter to an interrogation room at the police station. He proceeded to tell Carter that Dwight was a “drunkard,” an “insurance fraudster” and a “thief” who “stole from the sick and elderly.” 

Carter fired back, “He was my friend. You killed him.”

Sheriff Wade then told Carter not to be a repeat offender like Dwight — and to “think real hard about where that got him.”

He also told the boy to stop asking questions about what happened.

“You weren’t there tonight, you never saw a thing … never say a word,” the sheriff threatened.

Later, after Carter left the police station, he called Oreana to pick him up and cried as she comforted him. 

Meanwhile, Beth and Rip strike up an uneasy alliance working with Oreana’s formidable grandmother, Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening), who runs the ranch next door to them. 

While they intend for this arrangement to be temporary, Rip still cautions Beth to be careful with the partnership, as Beulah seems dangerous. 

“Dutton Ranch” airs Fridays at 8 p.m ET on Paramount+ and Paramount Network.