Lesson 31: Don’t give in-depth statements to police.

After a self-defense incident, you should identify yourself to first responders, claim self-defense, and cooperate with law enforcement—but don’t answer detailed questions without a lawyer. Well-meaning explanations can be misunderstood, misquoted, or used against you, even if you don’t believe you did anything wrong. You’ll have time to tell your full story later with proper legal guidance. In the immediate aftermath of a self-defense shooting, less is more.