{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-14-51.4","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-51.4","heading":"Justification for defensive force not available.","body":"The justification described in G.S. 14-51.2 and G.S. 14-51.3 is not available to a person who used defensive force and who:\n(1)\tWas attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of a felony.\n(2)\tInitially provokes the use of force against himself or herself. However, the person who initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself will be justified in using defensive force if either of the following occur:\na.\tThe force used by the person who was provoked is so serious that the person using defensive force reasonably believes that he or she was in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm, the person using defensive force had no reasonable means to retreat, and the use of force which is likely to cause death or serious bodily harm to the person who was provoked was the only way to escape the danger.\nb.\tThe person who used defensive force withdraws, in good faith, from physical contact with the person who was provoked, and indicates clearly that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the person who was provoked continues or resumes the use of force. (2011-268, s. 1.)","path":["Chapter 14. Criminal Law.","Subchapter IV. Offenses Against the Habitation and Other Buildings.","Article 14. Burglary and Other Housebreakings."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-51.4.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:56:32Z","sha256":"01e6e28f22110ffc999cfa2b89eeb9312b4b6e7e859d59d3bda888bca9086041","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-14-51.3","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-14-52"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}