LISTEN: Supreme Court hears arguments in case about standards for use of deadly force by police

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday on a case that questions under which circumstances police are allowed to use deadly force.

Listen to the hearing in the player above.

Barnes v. Felix is a Texas case that began when Ashtian Barnes was pulled over by police in 2016 for outstanding toll violations. According to court documents, Deputy Constable Roberto Felix Jr. was standing to the side of the car when he had ordered out Barnes out of the car. But Barnes instead attempted to drive away. Felix drew his gun and jumped on the door sill on the passenger side. Seconds later he shot and killed Barnes.

Lower courts had ruled the shooting was justified because under “moment of threat” doctrine Felix was afraid for his life while hanging from the vehicle. However, Barnes’ family has argued that Felix was not in danger until he jumped on the vehicle. They believe whether deadly force is justified should include the totality of events leading up to the shooting, not just the seconds before.