Texas Statutes & Codes
Penal Code
Title 2 General Principles of Criminal Responsibility (Chs. 6 — 9)
Chapter 9 Justification Excluding Criminal Responsibility (Subchs. A — F)
Subchapter D Protection of Property (§§ 9.41 — 9.44)

Sec. 9.42. Deadly Force to Protect Property.

A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:

(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and
(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:

(A) to prevent the other’s imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or
(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and

(3) he reasonably believes that:

(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or
(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

 

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