Which statement best captures the deadly force standard?

• A. It is permissible whenever there is a threat
• B. It is permissible when the suspect is unarmed
• C. It requires the threat to be so great that it doesn't matter if the person is killed
• D. It is permissible only when there is intent to flee

Answer: (C)

The deadly force standard centers on an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm and the idea that deadly force is a last resort when there are no reasonable alternatives. The statement described expresses that the threat must be so grave that stopping it may require using deadly force, even if the result could be the other person’s death. This captures both immediacy and necessity: the danger is immediate, severe, and cannot be safely countered with lesser means. It’s not simply “there is a threat,” it’s a threat of such magnitude that non-deadly options are not feasible. This standard is not about whether someone is armed in every case, nor about intent to flee, and it isn’t limited to situations involving unarmed suspects.