Pika,

The use of deadly force is never my first choice. But Jim's question was actually the protocol prior to the use of deadly force.

I learned as a youngster that everyone gets hurt in a fight, but it is better to be the winner than the loser. I do not claim a PTSD immunity.

In the situation you describe it was a mistake to talk to the police. You talk to the police when there is a purpose. The one armed man would not have escaped because the guy did not talk to them. There was a benefit to the guy to force the police to do a thorough investigation before he talked to them.

It is difficult to proceed with a civil lawsuit until after the criminal case has been resolved.