13-418. Justification; use of force in defense of residential structure or occupied vehicles; definitions
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a person is justified in threatening to use or using physical force or deadly physical force against another person if the person reasonably believes himself or another person to be in imminent peril of death or serious physical injury and the person against whom the physical force or deadly physical force is threatened or used was in the process of unlawfully or forcefully entering, or had unlawfully or forcefully entered, a residential structure or occupied vehicle, or had removed or was attempting to remove another person against the other person's will from the residential structure or occupied vehicle.
B. A person has no duty to retreat before threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force pursuant to this section.
C. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Residential structure" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13-1501.
2. "Vehicle" means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, that is designed to transport persons or property.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
8
cases (
7 in the last 5 years), 2014–2026 · leading case:
State v. Jones
State v. Jones (2024)
arizctapp · cites it 29×
“A.R.S. § 13-418. Here, Defendant David Jones appeals his convictions and sentences for aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.”
State v. Brown (2024)
arizctapp · cites it 4×
“The opinion turned in large part on a seldom-used justification (defense of an occupied vehicle, A.R.S. § 13-418) that was neither requested by the defendant nor given in the jury instructions.”
State of Arizona v. George Anthony Dominguez Jr. (2014)
arizctapp · cites it 2×
“3 ¶ 6 The “imminent death” language in § 13-1201(B) also is similar to that found in our justification statute AR.S. § 13-418(A), which allows the use of deadly force against someone who creates an “imminent peril of death or serious physical injury” to the occupant of a home or…”
State v. Sulu-Kerr (2024)
arizctapp · cites it 18×
“of an Occupied Vehicle as a Justification to Aggravated Assault and Reckless Manslaughter3 3 After reviewing the appellate briefs and the trial court record, we ordered the parties to provide supplemental briefing addressing an issue indirectly referenced in their briefs—whether…”
State v. Johnson (2025)
arizctapp · cites it 17×
“K I L E Y, Judge: ¶1 Kion Johnson appeals his convictions for disorderly conduct and other offenses, arguing that the superior court erred by not instructing the jury on the justification defense established by A.R.S. § 13-418. But Johnson never requested that instruction, and a…”
State of Arizona v. John Logan Brown (2025)
ariz · cites it 15×
“The superior court denied Brown’s request that it instruct the jury on the defense of residential structure, A.R.S. § 13-418; the defense of premises, A.”
State v. Castleberry (2026)
arizctapp · cites it 2×
“§ 13-407), defense of a residential structure (A.R.S. § 13-418) and domestic violence justification (A.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-418(A) — 5 cases
State of Arizona v. George Anthony Dominguez Jr. (2014)
arizctapp
“3 ¶ 6 The “imminent death” language in § 13-1201(B) also is similar to that found in our justification statute AR.S. § 13-418(A), which allows the use of deadly force against someone who creates an “imminent peril of death or serious physical injury” to the occupant of a home or…”
State v. Jones (2024)
arizctapp
“A.R.S. § 13-418. Here, Defendant David Jones appeals his convictions and sentences for aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.”
State of Arizona v. John Logan Brown (2025)
ariz
“The superior court denied Brown’s request that it instruct the jury on the defense of residential structure, A.R.S. § 13-418; the defense of premises, A.”
State v. Sulu-Kerr (2024)
arizctapp
“of an Occupied Vehicle as a Justification to Aggravated Assault and Reckless Manslaughter3 3 After reviewing the appellate briefs and the trial court record, we ordered the parties to provide supplemental briefing addressing an issue indirectly referenced in their briefs—whether…”
State v. Johnson (2025)
arizctapp
“K I L E Y, Judge: ¶1 Kion Johnson appeals his convictions for disorderly conduct and other offenses, arguing that the superior court erred by not instructing the jury on the justification defense established by A.R.S. § 13-418. But Johnson never requested that instruction, and a…”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-418(C)(1) — 1 case
State of Arizona v. John Logan Brown (2025)
ariz
“The superior court denied Brown’s request that it instruct the jury on the defense of residential structure, A.R.S. § 13-418; the defense of premises, A.”
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