In Estate of Parker v. Mississippi Department of Public Safety (5th Cir. 2025), officers pursuing Eric Smith—a suspect who had murdered two individuals, kidnapped his three‑month‑old son La’Mello Parker, and fired at law enforcement—utilized deadly force when Smith used the infant as a human shield. Tragically, La’Mello was fatally shot. His family sued under § 1983, alleging constitutional violations. The district court dismissed the case, granting qualified immunity, finding that officers acted reasonably. The 5th Circuit affirmed, applying the Graham factors—seriousness of the crime, immediate threat, and evasion—under an “objective reasonableness” standard. Despite the heartbreaking outcome, the court concluded that officers could not be faulted for returning fire at an armed, dangerous suspect, even when the suspect shielded himself with his child