Behind Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ hard exterior is a complex and tragic past formed by what happened to his wife and daughter in NCIS. Mark Harmon’s character was the face of the franchise for 19 years while he starred on the show, and now he will receive the spotlight again in the new NCIS: Origins spinoff series. The series will explore Gibbs’ beginning as a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). The organization was called NIS in 1991, a paramount year for Jethro Gibbs. It’s the year that will set the scene for the series when it premieres.

In 1991, the gunnery sergeant was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and began his new career at NIS in the face of a significant loss. Some is known about the period. There are essential Gibbs NCIS episodes that start to complete the picture of whom the Special Agent in Charge is on the main series, often via flashbacks of his past. One of the most telling instances is the double episode “Hiatus” at the end of NCIS season 3. The episode reveals some of the most pivotal details that form Gibbs’ character.

NCIS Revealed Gibbs’ Wife & Daughter Were Killed By A Mexican Drug Dealer

Shannon And Kelly Gibbs Were Murdered

It was revealed in NCIS season 3, episode 24, “Hiatus Part II,” that Pedro Hernandez killed Gibbs’ wife and daughter. The conflict started when Gibbs’ wife, Shannon, saw Hernandez, a drug dealer, kill a marine and decided to testify against him. A NIS agent was assigned to protect Shannon and their daughter, Kelly. The agent was shot while driving them, and Shannon and Kelly were killed in the accident. Special Agent Mike Franks was the NIS agent assigned to investigate the murder of Gibbs’ family. He ultimately allowed Gibbs access to the case file so he could avenge their deaths.

How Shannon & Kelly Gibbs’ Death Will Play Into The Upcoming NCIS Spinoff

Shannon And Kelly’s Death Is The Reason Gibbs Joined NIS

NCIS: Origins will hone in on Gibbs when he is freshly assigned to Camp Pendleton’s NIS office. The career change happens for Gibbs after he is honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and mourning the loss of his wife and daughter. The events were covered in flashbacks and conversations in the original series, but Origins could opt to portray the events again while setting the scene for Austin Stowell’s Young Gibbs. The deaths have a massive impact on Gibbs, who becomes an NIS agent and joins the agency due to his experience with Mike Franks.

Shannon and Kelly’s deaths are significant in Gibbs’ backstory, so the event will be explored in NCIS: Origins. Kelly and Shannon’s funeral could be portrayed in the series, as Robert Taylor has been cast to portray Gibbs’ father, Jackson Gibbs. It’s revealed in NCIS season 6, episode 4, “Heartland,” that Jethro and his father were estranged for 15 years, and the last time he saw him was at his wife and daughter’s funeral. At least as far back as the funeral will be portrayed on screen if the series has cast an actor to play Jackson.