Under Massachusetts law, deadly force may be used when which combination of conditions is met?

• A. The arrest is for a felony; the officer believes deadly force will not create substantial risk of injury to innocent persons; and the crime conduct involves use or threatened use of deadly force
• B. The arrest is for a misdemeanor
• C. The officer believes deadly force will always injure innocents
• D. The suspect surrenders peacefully

Answer: (A)

Massachusetts allows deadly force by an officer only when two things are true: the arrest is for a felony (and the felony involves use or threatened use of deadly force), and the officer reasonably believes that using deadly force is necessary to prevent the suspect’s escape while also not posing a substantial risk of injury to innocent people. The option that matches these conditions states the arrest is for a felony, the crime involves use or threat of deadly force, and the officer believes deadly force will not create substantial risk to bystanders. That pairing captures the required danger-and-necessity assessment plus the safety consideration.

Why the other scenarios don’t fit: a misdemeanor arrest generally does not justify deadly force; thinking deadly force will always injure innocents isn’t the legal standard and would negate the necessary judgment about whether force is actually required and safe; and if the suspect surrenders peacefully, there’s typically no ongoing threat that would justify lethal force.