What phenomenon involves a person causing an officer to use deadly force?

• A. Suicide-by-cop
• B. Entrapment
• C. Justifiable homicide
• D. Cop-aided homicide

Answer: (A)

Suicide-by-cop describes a situation in which a person deliberately acts in a way that provokes an officer to use deadly force, often with the aim of dying or avoiding arrest. The suspect’s intent is to force a lethal police response, rather than to commit a crime that would itself trigger gunfire. This differs from entrapment, where authorities induce someone to commit a crime they wouldn’t have otherwise committed. It also isn’t about whether the officer’s action was legally justifiable or about aiding in a homicide; it’s about the suspect’s tactic of provoking a fatal encounter. Recognizing this helps emphasize the importance of de-escalation and crisis intervention to reduce the chance of such deadly outcomes.