Thompson had killed several men by 1884, including the 1882 death of popular theater owner Jack Harris in San Antonio.

Fisher had recently left the office of sheriff for Uvalde County, Texas, and on March 11, 1884, was in San Antonio on business.

With his profits he opened his own saloon, first calling it the Jack Harris Bar and Billiard Room, but then changing the name to the Vaudeville Variety Theater.

Thompson entered, and approached the bartender, and told him to pass word to both Foster and Harris that he intended to "close this damn whorehouse".

Meanwhile, Billy Simms went upstairs and put on his guns and warned Harris, who then went and obtained a shotgun, after which he placed himself behind a screen in view of the front door, where he waited for Thompson for at least ten minutes.

At least one witness would later state that after the verbal exchange, it was one or two minutes later that the shots were fired, but in fact it was only a matter of a couple of seconds at the most.

Instead, he waited, watched, allowed two ladies to enter by holding the doors for them, then passed the before mentioned verbal exchange, after which the two shots were fired almost immediately.

The following morning he surrendered himself to Bexar County, Texas Sheriff Thomas P. McCall and San Antonio Police Chief Shariden.

A written battle of words began between two newspapers, the San Antonio Light and the Austin Statesman, one screaming for justice against Thompson, the other defending him.

An indictment was handed down on September 6, 1882, and although a change of venue was considered, by that time sentiment was leaning in Thompson's favor, so the case was tried in San Antonio.

Friends to Thompson cheered outside the courtroom when the verdict was announced, and upon his return to Austin he was met by a large crowd of supporters.

King Fisher would, ironically, become a victim in a situation in which he played no part whatsoever, short of being present on that day.

Fisher and Thompson attended a play on March 11 at the Turner Hall Opera House, and later, at around 10:30pm, they went to the Vaudeville Variety Theater.

Thompson wanted to see Joe Foster, the theater owner and friend of Harris's who was now partnered with Billy Simms, and who was one of the main people fueling the ongoing feud.

Their reputations as gunmen, and their having proven their skills in that trade in many documented events made anyone wishing to face them have second thoughts.

Foster was carried down the street for medical attention, and his leg was amputated, but he died of blood loss during the operation.

There was a public outcry for a grand jury indictment of those involved, not only from Austin and other parts of Texas, but from many inside San Antonio, who felt the ambush was cowardly.