Deadly Force Defined

Deadly force means force which a person uses with the intent of causing, or which he knows to create a substantial risk of causing, death or serious bodily injury. Intentionally firing a firearm in the direction of another person or at a moving vehicle constitutes deadly force. A threat to cause death or serious bodily injury does not constitute deadly force, so long as the defendant’s intent is limited to creating an apprehension that he will use deadly force if necessary. SOURCE: M.P.C. § 3.11(2); Cal. § 600 (1971); *Mass. ch. 263, § 32(c)(2); N.J. § 2C:3-11(b).