Self-Defense Shooting? What TO DO When Cops Arrive

When you survive a self-defense shooting, your next move could make or break your future.

The physical threat may be over. But legally and emotionally, the most dangerous part may just be starting.

Most people think the biggest challenge is pulling the trigger. But if you’ve defended yourself with a firearm, the real test begins the moment the sirens start heading your way. That’s why it’s critical to understand how to safely and smartly handle law enforcement after a self-defense incident—before you’re in the middle of one.

Rachel Moss, a veteran criminal defense attorney with Attorneys for Freedom and Attorneys on Retainer, put it plainly:

“You need to be prepared for when officers show up—for you not to get shot.”

Let’s break down what to do after a self-defense shooting so you stay alive and out of jail.

Step One: Don’t Get Mistaken for the Threat

Just because you were the good guy with a gun doesn’t mean the responding officers know that. They’re walking into a high-risk situation. They know someone has been shot. They don’t know if the shooter is still active—or if you’re the shooter.

In those first seconds, your actions could be the difference between walking away or being treated like the suspect.

So here’s what to do:

• Secure your firearm safely before officers arrive, if possible. Holster it or lay it down in plain sight. Don’t be caught holding it in your hands when they show up.
• Keep your hands visible. Raise them slowly, palms open, fingers spread.
• Don’t move around. Stay still and wait for commands.
• Don’t yell. Don’t try to explain. You’re not going to talk your way out of handcuffs.

Right now, when the police arrive, it’s not about guilt or innocence. This is about optics—and survival. In the chaos after a self-defense shooting, officers are scanning for threats. They don’t know who you are. If you act unpredictably and the police perceive you as a threat, you could get hurt—or worse.

Step Two: Expect to Be Treated Like a Suspect (At First)

Until law enforcement gets a handle on the situation, you may be handcuffed. You may be placed in a patrol car. You may even be arrested temporarily. That’s standard protocol in many jurisdictions after a self-defense shooting.

Rachel Moss says the key is preparation and control.

“You want to be prepared to follow any instructions of the officers.“

Don’t argue. Don’t resist. Don’t give a play-by-play of what happened. And most importantly:

• Do not waive your rights.
• You can say: “I’m willing to cooperate, but I want to speak with an attorney before answering questions.”

That is your right. Use it.

Even if you’re 100% in the right, you could be in a mental fog. Even though we think we are good to go, life and death struggles can cause you to not think as accurately as needed when speaking about such a significant event.

You may forget details. You might accidentally say something that sounds off, which the prosecutors can—and will—use against you later.

Surviving the fight doesn’t guarantee you will survive the legal system. Your words matter—even in the heat of the moment.

Step Three: Have a Legal Plan—NOW

If you carry a gun for personal protection, you must have a self-defense legal strategy in place before you ever need it. In the middle of a crisis, it isn’t time to start Googling and trying to figure it out.

Ask yourself:

• Do you know a criminal defense attorney to call if you’re involved in a self-defense shooting?
• Are you a member of a legal protection plan like Attorneys on Retainer?
• Have you talked to your spouse or someone close about what to do if you’re arrested?

If not, you need to get to it. This is part of responsible self-defense planning.

Step Four: Think Beyond the Trigger Pull

People often focus on situational awareness, shot placement, and training (and you should). But mindset after a self-defense shooting is just as important as mindset before and during the attack.

You have two goals:

1. Stay alive. That means responding safely and non-threateningly to law enforcement.
2. Stay free. That means not giving statements you’ll regret, not waiving your rights, and having proper legal representation.

Rachel Moss regularly defends people who use force in self-defense. She’s seen good people get into mountains of legal issues simply because they thought they knew better and spoke too soon.

Her advice is clear:

“Make sure when officers respond, they can see your hands. Make sure they don’t see you as the assailant.”

In other words, your job doesn’t end with the last shot fired. Your freedom depends on what you do next.

The Bottom Line: Self-Defense Means More Than Pulling the Trigger

Preparedness isn’t just about marksmanship or having the right EDC loadout. It’s also about knowing how to carry yourself in the critical minutes after a self-defense shooting.

• You can do everything right and still be treated like a suspect.
• You can say one wrong thing and complicate your entire case.
• You can fail to plan legally—and end up losing your freedom after saving your life.

Don’t make that mistake.

If you carry a gun, you need to be just as prepared for the aftermath as you are for the threat itself. The time to learn this isn’t when you’re in handcuffs. It’s now.

What’s Your Take?

Do you think the law goes too far when treating self-defense shooters like suspects?

Have you thought through what you’d do in that moment—when the police show up, and your adrenaline is still pumping?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments. 👇

• Would you stay silent or explain your actions?
• Have you had any close calls where you had to think fast?
• Do you agree with Rachel Moss’s advice—or do you see it differently?

Let’s hear it

Stay safe,