In the 1985 case Tennessee v. Garner, the Supreme Court's majority opinion, delivered by Justice Byron White, held that the use of deadly force by law enforcement to prevent the escape of a fleeing felon is unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment when the fleeing suspect poses no immediate threat to the officer or others. The dissenting opinion, led by Justice Harry Blackmun, argued that the use of deadly force can be justified in protecting the community and that the majority's decision unduly restricts police discretion in high-stakes situations. The case set a significant precedent regarding the use of force by police.
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