Under deadly force definitions, which statement is true?

• A. The firing of a firearm in the direction of the person to be arrested, even though no intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm.
• B. Verbal commands are deadly force.
• C. Nonlethal chemical spray at close range is deadly force.
• D. A push or shove during arrest is deadly force.

Answer: (A)

Deadly force means using force that is likely to cause death or serious bodily harm. The key point is the risk, not the intent behind the action. Firing a firearm toward a person to be arrested creates a substantial risk of fatal injury, so that action satisfies the definition of deadly force even if there was no intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm. Verbal commands involve no physical force and cannot by themselves cause death. A nonlethal chemical spray is designed to incapacitate without usually causing death. A push or shove is a minor form of physical contact and typically does not, by itself, create the high risk of death or serious harm that defines deadly force.