What term describes a suicide attempt intended to cause lethal harm by law enforcement?

• A. Homicide
• B. Suicide by Cop (SBC)
• C. Assisted Suicide
• D. Accidental Death

Answer: (B)

The situation described is when a person intends to die and uses the chance of lethal force from law enforcement to make that happen. This is called suicide by cop. The person acts in a way that escalates to a controlled lethal response by officers—such as brandishing a weapon or creating a dangerous standoff—with the goal of provoking police to shoot. The key element is the intent to die by the officers’ gunfire, rather than dying by their own hand or having someone else facilitate their death.

This helps distinguish SBC from other terms. It is not homicide, which involves one person intentionally killing another. It is not assisted suicide, where another person provides the means or means to end a life for the person who dies; in SBC the lethal outcome comes from police action in response to the individual’s behavior, not a third party supplying the method. It is not an accidental death, since SBC involves a deliberate plan to end life through the police encounter, not a death that occurs without intent.

Understanding SBC is important in crisis situations and use-of-force considerations, as it highlights the mental state and choices leading to lethal police engagement and underscores the value of de-escalation and negotiation to prevent such outcomes.