Deadly force to prevent the escape of all felony suspects is constitutionally unreasonable.

• A. Illinois v. Lafayette (1983)
• B. Tennessee v. Garner (1985)
• C. Michigan v. Long (1983)
• D. Popple v. State

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that using deadly force to prevent the escape of every fleeing felony suspect is not allowed under the Fourth Amendment. Courts have held that a blanket rule permitting deadly force against all fleeing felons is unconstitutional. Deadly force may be used only when there is a real, immediate danger: the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or to others, or the suspect is actively posing such a threat. This principle was developed and refined in the 1980s through cases that rejected the idea of a universal “fleeing felon” rule and insisted on threat-based, necessary-for-survival standards. The key takeaway is that the force must be tied to the actual danger presented, not applied indiscriminately to all felons.