Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, in Act 1, scene 3. This scene takes place on the day after the party at Lord Capulet's house, and Tybalt is looking for Romeo because he wants to challenge him. Tybalt feels that Romeo has dishonored the Capulets by coming, uninvited, to their celebration. However, when Romeo arrives, having just married Juliet in secret, he will not fight Tybalt. When Tybalt insults and challenges him, Romeo says that "the reason [he has] to love [Tybalt] / Doth much excuse the appertaining rage / To such a greeting" (3.1.63-65). He talks about loving Tybalt, though for reasons that Tybalt cannot understand (the two are now related by marriage), and Mercutio interprets this as a "dishonorable, vile submission" on Romeo's part (3.1.74). He then challenges Tybalt in Romeo's stead.
Mercutio and Tybalt fight in the streets of Verona, and Romeo tries to stop them, reminding them that to fight like this is a crime, and he comes between the two. When he does so, Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo's arm, and, within minutes, Mercutio dies of the wound. Romeo then slays Tybalt, is forced to flee by Benvolio, and is later banished by the Prince for his crime.
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