← Legal Glossary

Suicide by Cop

Definition

A situation in which a person deliberately provokes a confrontation with law enforcement with the intent of being killed by police, often by threatening officers with a weapon. Officers familiar with Case believed this was his likely intention rather than self-harm, which was central to Petitioner's argument against probable cause.

Examples

  • Multiple officers on scene stated they believed Case was attempting suicide by cop rather than intending to shoot himself, based on his history of similar behavior

Related Terms