De-escalate. ID the guy as best you’re able, remove yourself from the situation and file a report. He’s already walked away. You’re going to jail if you shoot him. The defensible time for lethal response was during the assault. After the fact would be perceived as vigilantism.
It’s too late to de-escalate. He is coming back for more. I normally would agree with you, but he’s withing the zone...even if there was time to get back in your vehicle, how do you know he’s not gonna beat the smack out of your car, open the door, and beat on you some more?
And BikerBybe, WAY TO ANSWER!!! Wish we had like buttons here :)
If you can de-escalate in the approximately two seconds it is going to take for the jerk to get to you, you have my admiration.
Nope. In the hypothetical presented, hostilities are renewed by the subject, only this time with a proven history of intent to do great bodily harm. In law school we had to answer the hypo for what it was. Yes, avoidance and de-escalation would be better if they could be carried out safely. But that’s not the hypo, and neither is the idea of the subject just walking away. Both parties have access to the public space. If the subject charges you from 35 feet, you have a second, new event, and the threat is immediate and potentially lethal. Safe escape is not assured. Shooting in response is defensible. IMHO.
Exactly. The best gun fight is the one you never have.