Eyewitness

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“Sheriff, I just saw a wrong doer doin' wrong!”

–An eyewitness reporting Marston to a lawman

An Eyewitness is an NPC who observes the player committing a crime. When the player commits any crime, an eyewitness will flee the crime scene in an attempt to alert the authorities. The player has the option of bribing or killing the eyewitness, preventing an increase of his wanted level. If the witness is successful in making contact with a lawman or other authority figure, then the player's bounty will increase and he will gain a Wanted status.

Note that if a law officer witnesses the crime firsthand, then the witness stage is negated and the player will immediately become wanted. Gunslingers may also open fire upon the player as opposed to running to the sheriff's office.

Red Dead Redemption

Though the Bandana can be worn to negate the loss of Honor, Marston's bounty will still rise if an eyewitness escapes.

Red Dead Redemption 2

The Bandana hides the player's identity instead of affecting honor. If a witness successfully reports a crime, the identity of the suspect may be unknown, allowing the player to escape without incurring a bounty. There are several masks the can be worn that have the same effect, and the player's clothing is also a factor. If the townsfolk have seen the player commit crimes in the current clothing previously, they may recognize him regardless of his mask. This doesn't work on lawmen, however, as they will know the player's true identity regardless. If the player has a high enough bounty or caused a town to go into lockdown, law enforcement will recognize the player on sight and be marked on the map.

Tips

• Lassoing and untying the eyewitness will cause them to reset.
• An eyewitness can be paid off for usually the equivalent of Marston's incurred bounty in exchange for keeping quiet.
• Killing an eyewitness may result in a witness chain, in which the eyewitness's murder will create another eyewitness, forming a line of witnesses that will eventually stretch to a law officer.
• Having an extreme Honor or Fame rank may cause some folk to turn a blind eye to the player's misdoings.
• In Red Dead Redemption 2, players have the added option of attempting to talk to eyewitnesses using various techniques, such as intimidation.