by Zayed Al-Sayyed

Criminal Defense, UncategorizedFebruary 19, 20240 comments

Self-Defense in Arizona

Physical fights and violent crimes are not uncommon in America. While there are self-defense laws in place in Arizona, it’s important you understand the legal limits to avoid an unforeseen lawsuit.

Arizona has “stand your ground” laws that are designed to provide citizens with the legal ability to protect themselves and their property from harm. Venturing outside of what’s covered in Arizona’s self-defense laws can land you in a tricky situation.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Arizona self-defense laws, including notable exceptions and a real-life example.

Arizona Self-Defense Laws

A.R.S 13-404 explains that physical force is allowable if the individual believes, “that physical force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the other’s use or attempted use of unlawful physical force.”

Furthermore, A.R.S 13-405 outlines deadly force laws. This statute says that individuals can use deadly force if a retreat from the situation isn’t possible. For example, a robber cornering you in your home. Running might not be an option and your only defense may be deadly force.

The use of physical and deadly force is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A good rule of thumb is to avoid the use of deadly force if your family isn’t in immediate danger and has the ability to retreat from the situation. Using improper deadly force can lead to criminal charges, restitution payments, and a civil trial.

Exceptions to Self-Defense in Arizona

With anything, there are exceptions. Verbal altercations where there is no physical threat do not give individuals the ability to use self-defense. In addition, self-defense is not allowed when an individual is being arrested by a police officer.

Arizona statutes also prohibit the application of self-defense laws when an individual provokes another person into using physical force and does not attempt to retreat.

An Example of Arizona Self-Defense Laws

There are many examples of Arizona self-defense laws in real-life situations, but this is one of the most notable ones. In November 2011, David Appleton was followed by Tom Pearson as a result of a road rage incident. David Appleton pulled over, removed his handgun from the glove compartment, and placed it on the passenger seat.

According to David Appleton, Tom Pearson approached his vehicle and began choking him through the driver’s side window. Before losing consciousness, David Appleton fatally shot Tom Pearson.

The result? David Appleton was originally charged with second-degree murder. Nearly 15 months after the initial incident, a grand jury decision freed David Appleton under Arizona self-defense laws.

Finding a Self-Defense Lawyer

Regardless of the severity of your self-defense situation, it’s important to partner with a qualified self-defense lawyer. Wrongful convictions, restitution, and trials are all potential outcomes if you aren’t properly navigating Arizona self-defense laws in the courtroom.

Our team at theZlawyer defends your self-defense rights. If you felt like you had no other option but to use physical or deadly force to protect your family, reach out to one of our team members today.