A.R.S. § 13-405: Deadly Force Justification
Justification; use of deadly physical force
A person is justified in threatening or using deadly physical force when they would also be justified in using physical force under A.R.S. § 13-404 and a reasonable person would believe deadly force is immediately necessary to protect against another's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly physical force. The person has no duty to retreat before using deadly force if they are in a place where they may legally be and are not engaged in an unlawful act.
Full statute text
Official text last checked against azleg.gov:
13-405. Justification; use of deadly physical force
A. A person is justified in threatening or using deadly physical force against another:
1. If such person would be justified in threatening or using physical force against the other under section 13-404, and
2. When and to the degree a reasonable person would believe that deadly physical force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly physical force.
B. A person has no duty to retreat before threatening or using deadly physical force pursuant to this section if the person is in a place where the person may legally be and is not engaged in an unlawful act.
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