Which landmark Supreme Court decision restricted deadly force against fleeing suspects to situations involving immediate threat to life?

• A. Tennessee v. Garner
• B. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• C. Omnipresence
• D. Flight-or-Fight

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is when police may use deadly force against a fleeing suspect under the Fourth Amendment. Tennessee v. Garner established that deadly force cannot be used simply to prevent an escape; it may be used only if the officer has probable cause to believe the fleeing suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to others. In other words, the use of deadly force is limited to situations involving an immediate threat to life or serious harm, and the force must be reasonable under the circumstances. This case narrowed the old rule that authorities could always use deadly force on a fleeing felon and reinforced the protection of citizens’ and officers’ safety through a constitutional standard. The other options don’t address this landmark ruling on police use of force.