5 Major Vampire Diaries Characters Damon Killed (& Another 5 He Tried To)

If there's one thing TVD's Damon Salvatore is known for, it's his ruthless and violent tendencies. Throughout the show's 8-season run, the charismatic yet dangerous vampire has attempted to kill those around him, leaving a trail of devastation wherever he went.

But even though some of these attempts were successful and others not, many major characters have fallen victim to Damon's deadly impulses.

5 Characters Damon Killed

1. Lexi Branson

Killed: season 1, episode 8, '162 Candles'

Damon staked Lexi, Stefan's closest friend, in an attempt to deceive the Founder's Council into believing that she was the vampire responsible for causing terror in Mystic Falls. As she was one of the show's most likable characters, fans are upset about her death to this day. It wasn't only cruel towards Lexi, but also Stefan, who considered her as one of the few important people left in his life, whom Damon eliminated without any consideration.

2. Zach Salvatore

Killed: season 1, episode 5, 'You're Undead to Me'

Stefan comes back to Mystic Falls and resides at the Salvatore boarding house with his nephew Zach. Damon's appearance in town leads to a dreadful outcome, as he kills Zach in cold blood by snapping his neck. And as if that wasn't enough, we later found out that Damon had also killed Zach's pregnant girlfriend. Many fans felt that despite their dark history, Zach didn't do anything to deserve Damon's cruelty.

3. Tyler Lockwood

Killed: season 8, episode 3, 'You Decided That I Was Worth Saving'

Tyler finds Damon on the road and the two get into a physical altercation, which ends with Tyler bleeding out. Now, Sybil used mind control on Damon, which made him kill Tyler. But many fans are certain he would've done this regardless, as it's not the first time he has killed others for no reason. Overall, Tyler's sudden death was a very disappointing event for many, as they believed he deserved better.

4. Aaron Whitmore

Killed: season 5, episode 12, 'The Devil Inside'

Aaron was Elena's friend and the last surviving member of the Whitmore family, whom Damon killed because Katherine, as Elena, broke up with him. Needless to say, this senseless act wasn't received well in the community, as people found his decision to go back to his evil self because of rejection selfish and unjustified.

5. Jeremy

Killed: season 2, episode 1, 'The Return'

Once again fuelled by rejection, Damon cracked Jeremy's neck right in front of Elena. Fortunately, he was protected by the Gilbert ring, though Damon didn't know that at the time of the act. Fans were not impressed with Damon's actions as Jeremy was just a kid, and there was no acceptable reason for it, especially considering that it was the brother of the person he loved.

5 Characters Damon Tried to Kill

1. Caroline

Attempted to kill: season 2, episode 2, 'Brave New World'

Struggling with being a new vampire and the lack of self-control, Caroline asked Damon for help. He tells her he can help by killing her and comforts Caroline while getting ready to stake her. Luckily, Stefan appeared and stopped him, and Elena stood in front of Caroline when Damon attempted to have another go at her. This received split reactions from the fans, with some defending his actions and others saying he was just being a coward who didn't want to deal with her now that she got her memories back - not because she couldn't control herself.

2. Bonnie

Attempted to kill: season 1, episode 9, 'History Repeating'

Damon demands a necklace from Bonnie to fulfill the deal he made with a powerful witch from Bonnie's family, Emily Bennett, in order to save Katherine, who is buried in a tomb. Emily possesses Bonnie and uses her magic to destroy the necklace permanently. When she leaves her body, Damon attacks her in anger until Stefan intervenes and saves her with his blood. This, of course, was perceived as very unfair as Bonnie virtually had nothing to do with the necklace or the agreement.

3. Bill Forbes

Attempted to kill: season 3, episode 4, 'Disturbing Behavior'

Damon compels Bill to leave town, but it doesn't work as Bill tells him that he can't be compelled thanks to training his mind and threatens to out Damon as a vampire. Damon attacks Bill until Caroline shows up, saves him, and gives him her blood to heal.

4. Matt

Attempted to kill: season 4, episode 1, 'Growing Pains'

When Elena and Matt got into an accident and Elena asked Stefan to save Matt first, she turned into a vampire. Based on this, Damon believed that Matt should've died instead of Elena and decided to kill him. However, Elena interfered and took Damon down, warning him to leave Matt alone.

5. Klaus

Attempted to kill: season 3, episode 9, 'Homecoming'

In the midst of a heated confrontation between Mikael and Klaus, Damon intervenes and attacks Klaus with a white oak stake. However, Stefan suddenly appears and pulls Damon away from Klaus. Damon is shocked by Stefan's actions, but Klaus grants Stefan his freedom by releasing him from his compulsion.