chadrin lee mullenix beatrice luna individually representative estate israel leija et argued decided november per curiam night march sergeant randy baker tulia texas police department followed israel leija restaurant warrant arrest baker approached leija car informed arrest leija sped headed interstate wl nd baker gave chase quickly joined trooper gabriel rodriguez texas department public safety dps leija entered interstate led officers chase speeds miles per hour ibid twice chase leija called tulia police dispatcher claiming gun threatening shoot police officers abandon pursuit dispatcher relayed leija threats together report leija might intoxicated concerned officers baker rodriguez maintained pursuit law enforcement officers set tire spikes three locations officer troy ducheneaux canyon police department manned spike strip first location leija expected reach beneath overpass cemetery road ducheneaux officers received training deployment spike strips including take defensive position minimize risk posed passing driver ibid dps trooper chadrin mullenix also responded drove cemetery road overpass initially intending set spike strip upon learning spike strip positions however mullenix began consider another tactic shooting leija car order disable wl mullenix received training tactic attempted radioed idea rodriguez rodriguez responded gave mullenix position said leija slowed miles per hour mullenix asked dps dispatcher inform supervisor sergeant byrd plan ask byrd thought worth receiving byrd response mullenix exited vehicle armed service rifle took shooting position overpass feet respondents allege position mullenix still hear byrd response stand see spikes work first ibid mullenix waited leija arrive another officer randall county sheriff deputy tom shipman discussed whether mullenix plan work shoot vehicle best carry wl shipman also informed mullenix another officer located beneath overpass approximately three minutes mullenix took shooting position spotted leija vehicle rodriguez pursuit leija approached overpass mullenix fired six shots leija car continued forward beneath overpass engaged spike strip hit median rolled two half times later determined leija killed mullenix shots four struck upper body evidence mullenix shots hit car radiator hood engine block wl respondents sued mullenix rev stat alleging violated fourth amendment using excessive force leija mullenix moved summary judgment ground qualified immunity district denied motion finding genuine issues fact whether trooper mullenix acted recklessly acted reasonable trained peace officer acted similar circumstances wl mullenix appealed appeals fifth circuit affirmed agreed district immediacy risk posed leija disputed fact reasonable jury find either plaintiffs favor officer favor precluding us concluding mullenix acted objectively reasonably matter law judge king dissented described issue referenced majority simply restatement objective reasonableness test applies fourth amendment excessive force claims noted held pure question law quoting scott harris turning legal question judge king concluded mullenix actions objectively reasonable mullenix fired emphasized knew leija threatened shoot officers involved pursuit also leija seconds away encountering officer beneath overpass judge king also dismissed notion mullenix given spike strips chance work explained spike strips often ineffective officers operating vulnerable gunfire passing cars mullenix reasonably feared officers manning faced significant risk harm mullenix sought rehearing en banc fifth circuit denied petition judge jolly dissented joined six members judge king joined judge jolly dissent also filed separate dissent per curiam day however two members forming original panel majority withdrew previous opinion substituted new one revised opinion recognized objective unreasonableness question law resolved summary judgment judge king explained dissent reaffirmed denial qualified immunity majority concluded mullenix actions objectively unreasonable several factors justified deadly force previous cases absent innocent bystanders leija driving relatively controlled mullenix first given spike strips chance work mullenix decision judgment went conclude mullenix entitled qualified immunity law clearly established reasonable officer known use deadly force absent sufficiently substantial immediate threat violated fourth amendment address qualified immunity question whether fourth amendment violation first place reverse doctrine qualified immunity shields officials civil liability long conduct violate clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known pearson callahan quoting harlow fitzgerald clearly established right one sufficiently clear every reasonable official understood violates right reichle howards slip internal quotation marks alteration omitted require case directly point existing precedent must placed statutory constitutional question beyond debate ashcroft put simply qualified immunity protects plainly incompetent knowingly violate law malley briggs repeatedly told courts define clearly established law high level generality supra dispositive question whether violative nature particular conduct clearly established ibid emphasis added inquiry undertaken light specific context case broad general proposition brosseau haugen per curiam quoting saucier katz specificity especially important fourth amendment context recognized sometimes difficult officer determine relevant legal doctrine excessive force apply factual situation officer confronts case fifth circuit held mullenix violated clearly established rule police officer may deadly force fleeing felon pose sufficient threat harm officer others yet previously considered rejected almost exact formulation qualified immunity question fourth amendment context brosseau also involved shooting suspect fleeing car ninth circuit denied qualified immunity ground officer violated clearly established rule set forth tennessee garner deadly force permissible officer probable cause believe suspect poses threat serious physical harm either officer others haugen brosseau internal quotation marks omitted summarily reversed holding use ner general test excessive force mistaken brosseau correct inquiry explained whether clearly established fourth amendment prohibited officer conduct confronted whether shoot disturbed felon set avoiding capture vehicular flight persons immediate area risk flight considered three appeals cases discussed parties noted area one result depends much facts case concluded officer entitled qualified immunity one cases squarely governs case emphasis added anderson creighton also instructive required degree specificity lower denied qualified immunity based clearly established right free warrantless searches one home unless searching officers probable cause exigent circumstances faulted formulation failing address actual question issue whether circumstances anderson confronted constitute probable cause exigent circumstances without answering question explained conclusion anderson search objectively unreasonable follow immediately thus clearly established principle warrantless searches supported probable cause exigent circumstances violate fourth amendment case mullenix confronted reportedly intoxicated fugitive set avoiding capture vehicular flight twice flight threatened shoot police officers moments away encountering officer cemetery road relevant inquiry whether existing precedent placed conclusion mullenix acted unreasonably circumstances beyond debate supra general principle deadly force requires sufficient threat hardly settles matter see pasco knoblauch unreasonable expect police officer make numerous legal conclusions necessary apply garner car chase far clarifying issue excessive force cases involving car chases reveal hazy legal backdrop mullenix acted brosseau held officer violate clearly established law shot fleeing suspect fear endangered officers foot believed immediate area occupied vehicles path citizens might area first alteration original internal quotation marks omitted emphasis added threat leija posed least immediate presented suspect begun drive headed general direction officers bystanders time mullenix fired leija led police chase extremely high speeds reportedly intoxicated twice threatened shoot officers racing towards officer location considered excessive force claims connection chases two occasions since brosseau scott harris held officer violate fourth amendment ramming car fugitive whose reckless driving posed actual imminent threat lives pedestrians might present civilian motorists officers involved chase plumhoff rickard reaffirmed scott holding officer acted reasonably fatally shot fugitive intent resuming chase pose deadly threat others road slip thus never found use deadly force connection dangerous car chase violate fourth amendment let alone basis denying qualified immunity leija flight pass many cars drivers scott plumhoff traffic light time fleeing fugitives scott plumhoff verbally threatened kill officers path come upon officers event none precedents squarely governs facts given leija conduct say someone plainly incompetent knowingly violate law perceived sufficient threat acted mullenix malley dissent focuses availability spike strips alternative means terminating chase argues even leija posed threat sufficient justify deadly force circumstances mullenix nevertheless contravened clearly established law wait see spike strips work taking action spike strips however present dangers drivers encounter speeds miles per hour also officers manning see thompson mercer brief national association police organizations et al amici curiae spike strips always successful ending chase see cordova aragon brief national association police organizations et al amici curiae citing examples dissent cite case denying qualified immunity officers entitled terminate chase selected one dangerous alternative another even dissent argues governmental interest justified acting leija car hit spikes mullenix explained however feared leija might attempt shoot run officers manning spike strips mullenix also feared even leija hit spike strips might still able continue driving direction officers dissent ignores interests suggesting possible marginal gain shooting car using spike strips already place post opinion sotomayor fact mullenix hoped actions stop car manner avoided risks officers drivers relying spike strips entail dissent disputes merits options available mullenix post others experience analyze issues differently see brief national association police organizations et al amici curiae ultimately whatever said wisdom mullenix choice precedents place conclusion acted unreasonably circumstances beyond debate fundamentally dissent repeats fifth circuit error defines qualified immunity inquiry high level generality whether governmental interest justified choosing one tactic another fails consider question specific context case brosseau haugen internal quotation marks omitted anderson conclusion mullenix reasons insufficient justify actions simply follow immediately general proposition force must justified cases decided lower courts since brosseau likewise clearly established deadly force inappropriate response conduct like leija fifth circuit principally relied decision lytle bexar county denying qualified immunity police officer fired fleeing car killed one passengers holding turned assumption purposes summary judgment car moving away officer already traveled distance moment officer fired see held reasonable jury conclude receding car pose sufficient threat harm use deadly force reasonable crucially also recognized facts officer alleged fired car coming towards likely entitled qualified immunity based threat immediate severe physical harm without implying lytle either correct incorrect suffices say lytle clearly dictate conclusion mullenix unjustified perceiving grave danger responding accordingly given leija speeding towards confrontation officers threatened kill cases fifth circuit ignored also suggest mullenix assessment threat leija posed reasonable long slaton example eleventh circuit held sheriff deputy violate fourth amendment fatally shooting mentally unstable individual attempting flee deputy car even though time shooting individual yet operated cruiser dangerously explained law require officers tense dangerous situation wait moment suspect uses deadly weapon act stop suspect concluded deputy reason believe long dangerous based unstable state mind theft cruiser failure heed deputy warning stop also rejected notion deputy first tried less lethal methods spike strips onsidering unpredictability long behavior fleeing marked police cruiser held think police need taken chance hoped best alteration internal quotation marks omitted see smith cupp denying qualified immunity officer shot intoxicated suspect stolen officer cruiser reasonable jury concluded suspect flight immediately threaten officer bystander cases cited fifth circuit respondents simply factually distinct speak clearly specific circumstances several involve suspects may done little flee relatively low speeds see walker davis kirby duva adams speers vaughan cox cases shed little light whether far greater danger speeding fugitive threatening kill police officers waiting path warrant deadly force noted weapon ever seen surely circumstances police justified taking leija word twice told dispatcher gun prepared use finally respondents argue danger leija represented less substantial threats courts found sufficient justify deadly force mere fact courts approved deadly force extreme circumstances says little anything whether force reasonable circumstances fact mullenix fired reasonably understood leija fugitive fleeing arrest speeds miles per hour armed possibly intoxicated threatened kill officer saw police abandon pursuit racing towards officer ducheneaux position even accepting circumstances fall somewhere two sets cases respondents discuss qualified immunity protects actions border excessive acceptable force brosseau supra quoting saucier internal quotation marks omitted constitutional rule applied fifth circuit debate stanton sims per curiam slip grant mullenix petition certiorari reverse fifth circuit determination mullenix entitled qualified immunity ordered scalia concurring judgment chadrin lee mullenix beatrice luna individually representative estate israel leija et al petition writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit decided november justice scalia concurring judgment join judgment describe occurred application deadly force effecting arrest prior cases reserved description directing force sufficient kill person desired arrestee see plumhoff rickard brosseau haugen per curiam tennessee garner assist analysis refer use force happens kill arrestee application deadly force police might example attempt stop fleeing felon car felling large tree across road drop tree late crushes car occupant call application deadly force though force sufficient kill applied object harming body felon thus scott harris declined characterize officer scott use pursuing vehicle bumper push fleeing vehicle road application deadly force whether said matters whether scott actions reasonable also stacks deck officer seems describe action application deadly force least arguable scott pushing speeding vehicle road targeting occupant injury death however conceded trooper mullenix shoot wound kill fleeing leija even drive leija car road cause car stop destroying engine risky enterprise outcome demonstrated determining whether violated fourth amendment requires us ask whether reasonable kill leija whether reasonable shoot engine light risk leija distorts inquiry think make question whether reasonable mullenix apply deadly force sotomayor dissenting chadrin lee mullenix beatrice luna individually representative estate israel leija et al petition writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit decided november justice sotomayor dissenting chadrin mullenix fired six rounds dark car traveling miles per hour without training tactic wait order superior officer less second car hit spike strips deployed stop mullenix rogue conduct killed driver israel leija clearly established fourth amendment officer mullenix position fired shots respectfully dissent grant summary reversal resolving factual disputes favor plaintiffs must motion summary judgment mullenix knew following facts shot leija engine block leija led police officers car chase speeds ranging miles per hour leija twice called police dispatcher threatening shoot officers cease pursuit ibid police officers deploying three sets spike strips order stop leija flight ibid officers trained stop car using spike strips training included take defensive position minimize risk danger target car ibid mullenix knew spike strips set directly beneath overpass stationed evidence officers mullenix communication including officer troy ducheneaux mullenix believed overpass expressed concern safety mullenix training shooting disable moving vehicle never seen tactic done also lacked permission take shots mullenix relayed plan superior officer robert byrd byrd responded stand see spikes work first three minutes arriving overpass mullenix fired six rounds leija car none hit car engine block least four struck leija upper body killing leija ii confronting claim qualified immunity asks two questions first considers whether officer fact violated constitutional right saucier katz second asks whether contours right sufficiently clear reasonable official understood violates right quoting anderson creighton rejected idea official action protected qualified immunity unless action question previously held unlawful instead crux qualified immunity test whether officers fair notice acting unconstitutionally hope pelzer respondents allege mullenix violated fourth amendment prohibition unreasonable seizures using deadly force apprehend leija precedents clearly establish fourth amendment violated unless effectuating particular kind seizure outweigh quality intrusion individual fourth amendment interests scott harris quoting place must governmental interes effectuating seizure also seizure carried tennessee garner balancing particular governmental interest use deadly force intrusion occasioned use force inherently inquiry susceptible bright lines clearly established government must interest using deadly force kinds force clearly established legal question question reasonable officer asked whether circumstances known mullenix governmental interest shooting car rather waiting run spike strips majority point interest claims mullenix goal merely stop car stop car manner avoided risks relying spike strips ante evidence record shooting leija engine block stop car manner majority first suggests mullenix wait results spikes superior advised concern officers manning strips leija going come upon officers whether mullenix shooting tactic successful mullenix took shot leija yards away spike strip traveling miles per hour even shots hit leija engine block car stopped instantly mullenix bought officers trying protect officers trained take defensive positions less second waiting spike strips whatever threat leija posed car stopped existed whether car stopped shot engine block spike strips evidence shooting car reliable spike strips majority notes spike strips fallible ante mullenix information suggest shooting disable car higher success rate much less training night likely succeed moreover officers training setting spike strips also placed two backup strips north along highway case first set failed reasonable officer thought shooting stop car less danger greater certainty waiting majority cites long slaton proposition mullenix need first tried less lethal methods spike strips ante case clear reason prefer deadly force alternatives long officer fired stop suspect fleeing stolen police cruiser officer fired alternative means stopping car place eleventh circuit held governmental interest waiting future deployment spike strips may never materialize justified use deadly force ibid case contrast neither petitioner majority point possible marginal gain shooting car using spike strips already place clearly established must governmental interest necessitates deadly force even always clearly established level governmental interest sufficient circumstances known time mullenix puts forth plausible reason choose shooting leija engine block waiting results spike strips thus hold mullenix violated leija clearly established right free intrusion absent governmental interest iii majority largely evades key legal question focusing primarily governmental interest whether car stopped rather dispositive question car stopped even assuming leija posed sufficient ante immediate ante threat mullenix face choice two evils shooting suspect car letting go scott see plumhoff rickard slip brosseau haugen instead mullenix chose employ potentially lethal tactic shooting leija engine block addition tactic specifically designed accomplish result spike strips granting mullenix qualified immunity goes step previous cases without full briefing argument thus framed apparent majority exhortation right stake defined high level generality see ante red herring majority adduces various facts fifth circuit supposedly ignored qualified immunity analysis including leija reportedly intoxicated fugitive set avoiding capture vehicular flight twice flight threatened shoot police officers moments away encountering officer cemetery road ante one facts goes governmental interest shooting awaiting spike strips majority also claims established law make clear mullenix reasons insufficient justify choice shooting following superior orders wait spikes ante mullenix seemed reasons prefer shooting following orders instead dealing question whether mullenix constitutionally fire leija car rather waiting spike strips majority dwells imminence threat posed leija majority recharacterizes mullenix decision shoot leija engine block choice made suspect moments away ante indeed reading majority opinion one scarcely believe mullenix arrived overpass several minutes took shot rural road car chase occurred cars bystanders businesses majority also glosses facts mullenix time ask byrd permission fire upon leija byrd mullenix superior officer told mullenix stand reason believe byrd information mullenix including knowledge officer stationed beneath overpass even receiving byrd response mullenix spent minutes shooting position discussing next step fellow officer minutes received information made plan suitable superior orders less ibid appropriate reading record summary judgment thus render mullenix choice even unreasonable asking appropriate legal question leave majority choice conclude mullenix ignored longstanding fourth amendment rule must governmental interest seizing suspect level force used effectuate seizure mullenix confronted superior officer shooting first words proactive ibid mullenix apparently referencing earlier counseling session byrd suggested enterprising enough ibid glib comment impact legal analysis officer actual intentions irrelevant fourth amendment objectively reasonable inquiry see graham connor comment seems revealing culture decision supports calls reasonable even reasonably reasonable use deadly force discernible gain supervisor express order stand sanctioning shoot first think later approach policing renders protections fourth amendment hollow reasons discussed deny mullenix petition writ certiorari thus respectfully dissent chadrin lee mullenix beatrice luna individually representative estate israel leija et al petition writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit decided november per curiam night march sergeant randy baker tulia texas police department followed israel leija restaurant warrant arrest baker approached leija car informed arrest leija sped headed interstate wl nd baker gave chase quickly joined trooper gabriel rodriguez texas department public safety dps leija entered interstate led officers chase speeds miles per hour ibid twice chase leija called tulia police dispatcher claiming gun threatening shoot police officers abandon pursuit dispatcher relayed leija threats together report leija might intoxicated concerned officers baker rodriguez maintained pursuit law enforcement officers set tire spikes three locations officer troy ducheneaux canyon police department manned spike strip first location leija expected reach beneath overpass cemetery road ducheneaux officers received training deployment spike strips including take defensive position minimize risk posed passing driver ibid dps trooper chadrin mullenix also responded drove cemetery road overpass initially intending set spike strip upon learning spike strip positions however mullenix began consider another tactic shooting leija car order disable wl mullenix received training tactic attempted radioed idea rodriguez rodriguez responded gave mullenix position said leija slowed miles per hour mullenix asked dps dispatcher inform supervisor sergeant byrd plan ask byrd thought worth receiving byrd response mullenix exited vehicle armed service rifle took shooting position overpass feet respondents allege position mullenix still hear byrd response stand see spikes work first ibid mullenix waited leija arrive another officer randall county sheriff deputy tom shipman discussed whether mullenix plan work shoot vehicle best carry wl shipman also informed mullenix another officer located beneath overpass approximately three minutes mullenix took shooting position spotted leija vehicle rodriguez pursuit leija approached overpass mullenix fired six shots leija car continued forward beneath overpass engaged spike strip hit median rolled two half times later determined leija killed mullenix shots four struck upper body evidence mullenix shots hit car radiator hood engine block wl respondents sued mullenix rev stat alleging violated fourth amendment using excessive force leija mullenix moved summary judgment ground qualified immunity district denied motion finding genuine issues fact whether trooper mullenix acted recklessly acted reasonable trained peace officer acted similar circumstances wl mullenix appealed appeals fifth circuit affirmed agreed district immediacy risk posed leija disputed fact reasonable jury find either plaintiffs favor officer favor precluding us concluding mullenix acted objectively reasonably matter law judge king dissented described issue referenced majority simply restatement objective reasonableness test applies fourth amendment excessive force claims noted held pure question law quoting scott harris turning legal question judge king concluded mullenix actions objectively reasonable mullenix fired emphasized knew leija threatened shoot officers involved pursuit also leija seconds away encountering officer beneath overpass judge king also dismissed notion mullenix given spike strips chance work explained spike strips often ineffective officers operating vulnerable gunfire passing cars mullenix reasonably feared officers manning faced significant risk harm mullenix sought rehearing en banc fifth circuit denied petition judge jolly dissented joined six members judge king joined judge jolly dissent also filed separate dissent per curiam day however two members forming original panel majority withdrew previous opinion substituted new one revised opinion recognized objective unreasonableness question law resolved summary judgment judge king explained dissent reaffirmed denial qualified immunity majority concluded mullenix actions objectively unreasonable several factors justified deadly force previous cases absent innocent bystanders leija driving relatively controlled mullenix first given spike strips chance work mullenix decision judgment went conclude mullenix entitled qualified immunity law clearly established reasonable officer known use deadly force absent sufficiently substantial immediate threat violated fourth amendment address qualified immunity question whether fourth amendment violation first place reverse doctrine qualified immunity shields officials civil liability long conduct violate clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known pearson callahan quoting harlow fitzgerald clearly established right one sufficiently clear every reasonable official understood violates right reichle howards slip internal quotation marks alteration omitted require case directly point existing precedent must placed statutory constitutional question beyond debate ashcroft put simply qualified immunity protects plainly incompetent knowingly violate law malley briggs repeatedly told courts define clearly established law high level generality supra dispositive question whether violative nature particular conduct clearly established ibid emphasis added inquiry undertaken light specific context case broad general proposition brosseau haugen per curiam quoting saucier katz specificity especially important fourth amendment context recognized sometimes difficult officer determine relevant legal doctrine excessive force apply factual situation officer confronts case fifth circuit held mullenix violated clearly established rule police officer may deadly force fleeing felon pose sufficient threat harm officer others yet previously considered rejected almost exact formulation qualified immunity question fourth amendment context brosseau also involved shooting suspect fleeing car ninth circuit denied qualified immunity ground officer violated clearly established rule set forth tennessee garner deadly force permissible officer probable cause believe suspect poses threat serious physical harm either officer others haugen brosseau internal quotation marks omitted summarily reversed holding use ner general test excessive force mistaken brosseau correct inquiry explained whether clearly established fourth amendment prohibited officer conduct confronted whether shoot disturbed felon set avoiding capture vehicular flight persons immediate area risk flight considered three appeals cases discussed parties noted area one result depends much facts case concluded officer entitled qualified immunity one cases squarely governs case emphasis added anderson creighton also instructive required degree specificity lower denied qualified immunity based clearly established right free warrantless searches one home unless searching officers probable cause exigent circumstances faulted formulation failing address actual question issue whether circumstances anderson confronted constitute probable cause exigent circumstances without answering question explained conclusion anderson search objectively unreasonable follow immediately thus clearly established principle warrantless searches supported probable cause exigent circumstances violate fourth amendment case mullenix confronted reportedly intoxicated fugitive set avoiding capture vehicular flight twice flight threatened shoot police officers moments away encountering officer cemetery road relevant inquiry whether existing precedent placed conclusion mullenix acted unreasonably circumstances beyond debate supra general principle deadly force requires sufficient threat hardly settles matter see pasco knoblauch unreasonable expect police officer make numerous legal conclusions necessary apply garner car chase far clarifying issue excessive force cases involving car chases reveal hazy legal backdrop mullenix acted brosseau held officer violate clearly established law shot fleeing suspect fear endangered officers foot believed immediate area occupied vehicles path citizens might area first alteration original internal quotation marks omitted emphasis added threat leija posed least immediate presented suspect begun drive headed general direction officers bystanders time mullenix fired leija led police chase extremely high speeds reportedly intoxicated twice threatened shoot officers racing towards officer location considered excessive force claims connection chases two occasions since brosseau scott harris held officer violate fourth amendment ramming car fugitive whose reckless driving posed actual imminent threat lives pedestrians might present civilian motorists officers involved chase plumhoff rickard reaffirmed scott holding officer acted reasonably fatally shot fugitive intent resuming chase pose deadly threat others road slip thus never found use deadly force connection dangerous car chase violate fourth amendment let alone basis denying qualified immunity leija flight pass many cars drivers scott plumhoff traffic light time fleeing fugitives scott plumhoff verbally threatened kill officers path come upon officers event none precedents squarely governs facts given leija conduct say someone plainly incompetent knowingly violate law perceived sufficient threat acted mullenix malley dissent focuses availability spike strips alternative means terminating chase argues even leija posed threat sufficient justify deadly force circumstances mullenix nevertheless contravened clearly established law wait see spike strips work taking action spike strips however present dangers drivers encounter speeds miles per hour also officers manning see thompson mercer brief national association police organizations et al amici curiae spike strips always successful ending chase see cordova aragon brief national association police organizations et al amici curiae citing examples dissent cite case denying qualified immunity officers entitled terminate chase selected one dangerous alternative another even dissent argues governmental interest justified acting leija car hit spikes mullenix explained however feared leija might attempt shoot run officers manning spike strips mullenix also feared even leija hit spike strips might still able continue driving direction officers dissent ignores interests suggesting possible marginal gain shooting car using spike strips already place post opinion sotomayor fact mullenix hoped actions stop car manner avoided risks officers drivers relying spike strips entail dissent disputes merits options available mullenix post others experience analyze issues differently see brief national association police organizations et al amici curiae ultimately whatever said wisdom mullenix choice precedents place conclusion acted unreasonably circumstances beyond debate fundamentally dissent repeats fifth circuit error defines qualified immunity inquiry high level generality whether governmental interest justified choosing one tactic another fails consider question specific context case brosseau haugen internal quotation marks omitted anderson conclusion mullenix reasons insufficient justify actions simply follow immediately general proposition force must justified cases decided lower courts since brosseau likewise clearly established deadly force inappropriate response conduct like leija fifth circuit principally relied decision lytle bexar county denying qualified immunity police officer fired fleeing car killed one passengers holding turned assumption purposes summary judgment car moving away officer already traveled distance moment officer fired see held reasonable jury conclude receding car pose sufficient threat harm use deadly force reasonable crucially also recognized facts officer alleged fired car coming towards likely entitled qualified immunity based threat immediate severe physical harm without implying lytle either correct incorrect suffices say lytle clearly dictate conclusion mullenix unjustified perceiving grave danger responding accordingly given leija speeding towards confrontation officers threatened kill cases fifth circuit ignored also suggest mullenix assessment threat leija posed reasonable long slaton example eleventh circuit held sheriff deputy violate fourth amendment fatally shooting mentally unstable individual attempting flee deputy car even though time shooting individual yet operated cruiser dangerously explained law require officers tense dangerous situation wait moment suspect uses deadly weapon act stop suspect concluded deputy reason believe long dangerous based unstable state mind theft cruiser failure heed deputy warning stop also rejected notion deputy first tried less lethal methods spike strips onsidering unpredictability long behavior fleeing marked police cruiser held think police need taken chance hoped best alteration internal quotation marks omitted see smith cupp denying qualified immunity officer shot intoxicated suspect stolen officer cruiser reasonable jury concluded suspect flight immediately threaten officer bystander cases cited fifth circuit respondents simply factually distinct speak clearly specific circumstances several involve suspects may done little flee relatively low speeds see walker davis kirby duva adams speers vaughan cox cases shed little light whether far greater danger speeding fugitive threatening kill police officers waiting path warrant deadly force noted weapon ever seen surely circumstances police justified taking leija word twice told dispatcher gun prepared use finally respondents argue danger leija represented less substantial threats courts found sufficient justify deadly force mere fact courts approved deadly force extreme circumstances says little anything whether force reasonable circumstances fact mullenix fired reasonably understood leija fugitive fleeing arrest speeds miles per hour armed possibly intoxicated threatened kill officer saw police abandon pursuit racing towards officer ducheneaux position even accepting circumstances fall somewhere two sets cases respondents discuss qualified immunity protects actions border excessive acceptable force brosseau supra quoting saucier internal quotation marks omitted constitutional rule applied fifth circuit debate stanton sims per curiam slip grant mullenix petition certiorari reverse fifth circuit determination mullenix entitled qualified immunity ordered scalia concurring judgment chadrin lee mullenix beatrice luna individually representative estate israel leija et al petition writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit decided november justice scalia concurring judgment join judgment describe occurred application deadly force effecting arrest prior cases reserved description directing force sufficient kill person desired arrestee see plumhoff rickard brosseau haugen per curiam tennessee garner assist analysis refer use force happens kill arrestee application deadly force police might example attempt stop fleeing felon car felling large tree across road drop tree late crushes car occupant call application deadly force though force sufficient kill applied object harming body felon thus scott harris declined characterize officer scott use pursuing vehicle bumper push fleeing vehicle road application deadly force whether said matters whether scott actions reasonable also stacks deck officer seems describe action application deadly force least arguable scott pushing speeding vehicle road targeting occupant injury death however conceded trooper mullenix shoot wound kill fleeing leija even drive leija car road cause car stop destroying engine risky enterprise outcome demonstrated determining whether violated fourth amendment requires us ask whether reasonable kill leija whether reasonable shoot engine light risk leija distorts inquiry think make question whether reasonable mullenix apply deadly force sotomayor dissenting chadrin lee mullenix beatrice luna individually representative estate israel leija et al petition writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit decided november justice sotomayor dissenting chadrin mullenix fired six rounds dark car traveling miles per hour without training tactic wait order superior officer less second car hit spike strips deployed stop mullenix rogue conduct killed driver israel leija clearly established fourth amendment officer mullenix position fired shots respectfully dissent grant summary reversal resolving factual disputes favor plaintiffs must motion summary judgment mullenix knew following facts shot leija engine block leija led police officers car chase speeds ranging miles per hour leija twice called police dispatcher threatening shoot officers cease pursuit ibid police officers deploying three sets spike strips order stop leija flight ibid officers trained stop car using spike strips training included take defensive position minimize risk danger target car ibid mullenix knew spike strips set directly beneath overpass stationed evidence officers mullenix communication including officer troy ducheneaux mullenix believed overpass expressed concern safety mullenix training shooting disable moving vehicle never seen tactic done also lacked permission take shots mullenix relayed plan superior officer robert byrd byrd responded stand see spikes work first three minutes arriving overpass mullenix fired six rounds leija car none hit car engine block least four struck leija upper body killing leija ii confronting claim qualified immunity asks two questions first considers whether officer fact violated constitutional right saucier katz second asks whether contours right sufficiently clear reasonable official understood violates right quoting anderson creighton rejected idea official action protected qualified immunity unless action question previously held unlawful instead crux qualified immunity test whether officers fair notice acting unconstitutionally hope pelzer respondents allege mullenix violated fourth amendment prohibition unreasonable seizures using deadly force apprehend leija precedents clearly establish fourth amendment violated unless effectuating particular kind seizure outweigh quality intrusion individual fourth amendment interests scott harris quoting place must governmental interes effectuating seizure also seizure carried tennessee garner balancing particular governmental interest use deadly force intrusion occasioned use force inherently inquiry susceptible bright lines clearly established government must interest using deadly force kinds force clearly established legal question question reasonable officer asked whether circumstances known mullenix governmental interest shooting car rather waiting run spike strips majority point interest claims mullenix goal merely stop car stop car manner avoided risks relying spike strips ante evidence record shooting leija engine block stop car manner majority first suggests mullenix wait results spikes superior advised concern officers manning strips leija going come upon officers whether mullenix shooting tactic successful mullenix took shot leija yards away spike strip traveling miles per hour even shots hit leija engine block car stopped instantly mullenix bought officers trying protect officers trained take defensive positions less second waiting spike strips whatever threat leija posed car stopped existed whether car stopped shot engine block spike strips evidence shooting car reliable spike strips majority notes spike strips fallible ante mullenix information suggest shooting disable car higher success rate much less training night likely succeed moreover officers training setting spike strips also placed two backup strips north along highway case first set failed reasonable officer thought shooting stop car less danger greater certainty waiting majority cites long slaton proposition mullenix need first tried less lethal methods spike strips ante case clear reason prefer deadly force alternatives long officer fired stop suspect fleeing stolen police cruiser officer fired alternative means stopping car place eleventh circuit held governmental interest waiting future deployment spike strips may never materialize justified use deadly force ibid case contrast neither petitioner majority point possible marginal gain shooting car using spike strips already place clearly established must governmental interest necessitates deadly force even always clearly established level governmental interest sufficient circumstances known time mullenix puts forth plausible reason choose shooting leija engine block waiting results spike strips thus hold mullenix violated leija clearly established right free intrusion absent governmental interest iii majority largely evades key legal question focusing primarily governmental interest whether car stopped rather dispositive question car stopped even assuming leija posed sufficient ante immediate ante threat mullenix face choice two evils shooting suspect car letting go scott see plumhoff rickard slip brosseau haugen instead mullenix chose employ potentially lethal tactic shooting leija engine block addition tactic specifically designed accomplish result spike strips granting mullenix qualified immunity goes step previous cases without full briefing argument thus framed apparent majority exhortation right stake defined high level generality see ante red herring majority adduces various facts fifth circuit supposedly ignored qualified immunity analysis including leija reportedly intoxicated fugitive set avoiding capture vehicular flight twice flight threatened shoot police officers moments away encountering officer cemetery road ante one facts goes governmental interest shooting awaiting spike strips majority also claims established law make clear mullenix reasons insufficient justify choice shooting following superior orders wait spikes ante mullenix seemed reasons prefer shooting following orders instead dealing question whether mullenix constitutionally fire leija car rather waiting spike strips majority dwells imminence threat posed leija majority recharacterizes mullenix decision shoot leija engine block choice made suspect moments away ante indeed reading majority opinion one scarcely believe mullenix arrived overpass several minutes took shot rural road car chase occurred cars bystanders businesses majority also glosses facts mullenix time ask byrd permission fire upon leija byrd mullenix superior officer told mullenix stand reason believe byrd information mullenix including knowledge officer stationed beneath overpass even receiving byrd response mullenix spent minutes shooting position discussing next step fellow officer minutes received information made plan suitable superior orders less ibid appropriate reading record summary judgment thus render mullenix choice even unreasonable asking appropriate legal question leave majority choice conclude mullenix ignored longstanding fourth amendment rule must governmental interest seizing suspect level force used effectuate seizure mullenix confronted superior officer shooting first words proactive ibid mullenix apparently referencing earlier counseling session byrd suggested enterprising enough ibid glib comment impact legal analysis officer actual intentions irrelevant fourth amendment objectively reasonable inquiry see graham connor comment seems revealing culture decision supports calls reasonable even reasonably reasonable use deadly force discernible gain supervisor express order stand sanctioning shoot first think later approach policing renders protections fourth amendment hollow reasons discussed deny mullenix petition writ certiorari thus respectfully dissent footnotes although mullenix disputes hearing byrd response view facts light favorable respondents oppose mullenix motion summary judgment see tolan cotton per curiam slip footnotes majority describes choice spike strips shooting choice one dangerous alternative another noting spike strips pose danger drivers encounter ante mullenix thought awaiting spikes anywhere near dangerous shooting immediately leija hit spikes one thing mullenix training shooting disable vehicle idea relative danger shooting posed driver another leija subjected danger posed spike strips whether mullenix shot fact happened leija car hit spike strips rolled two half times footnotes although mullenix disputes hearing byrd response view facts light favorable respondents oppose mullenix motion summary judgment see tolan cotton per curiam slip footnotes majority describes choice spike strips shooting choice one dangerous alternative another noting spike strips pose danger drivers encounter ante mullenix thought awaiting spikes anywhere near dangerous shooting immediately leija hit spikes one thing mullenix training shooting disable vehicle idea relative danger shooting posed driver another leija subjected danger posed spike strips whether mullenix shot fact happened leija car hit spike strips rolled two half times