According to Tennessee v. Garner, when is deadly force permitted?

In Tennessee v. Garner, the court established that deadly force may only be used by law enforcement officers when it is necessary to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect who poses a significant threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or others. This case set a clear standard that emphasizes the need for an immediate threat to life before an officer can justify the use of such extreme measures, ensuring that the use of deadly force is a last resort rather than a default response to fleeing suspects.

The significance of this ruling lies in its alignment with the constitutional protections against unreasonable seizures under the Fourth Amendment. The requirement that the suspect poses a significant threat helps to balance the necessity of law enforcement to ensure public safety against the individual's rights. Thus, the correct answer reflects this critical legal principle, emphasizing that the justification for using deadly force hinges on the immediate threat posed by the suspect, rather than solely the officer's feelings, the severity of the crime, or prior knowledge of a suspect’s dangerousness.