When Self-Defense Turns Into a Criminal Investigation
If you’ve ever imagined what a true self-defense situation feels like, you probably picture the fear, the adrenaline, and the instinct to survive. What most people don’t picture is what comes next, the part where the justice system starts treating you like a criminal if you don’t handle the aftermath correctly.
At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we’ve represented countless people who acted in lawful self-defense but still found themselves charged with crimes. Not because they did anything wrong, but because they didn’t understand what happens after the danger is over.
Once the threat stops, a new clock starts ticking. Your freedom can depend on what you say, and what you keep yourself from saying.
This guide breaks down exactly what to say to 911, how to talk to responding officers, and how to avoid the traps that routinely turn victims into suspects. If you’ve ever wondered what you should do after a self-defense incident, this is the blueprint every Hoosier needs.
The Race to 911: Why Calling First Matters
Most people think the truth will win the day. They assume that because they’re the victim, they can catch their breath, collect themselves, and let the police sort everything out.
Unfortunately, the criminal justice system doesn’t work that way.
Police and dispatchers operate on one simple rule:
Whoever calls 911 first is treated as the victim.
Whoever gets called on is treated as the suspect.
It’s not fair, but it’s reality. Human beings like efficiency, and law enforcement isn’t any different. If the aggressor, or one of their friends, calls 911 before you do, police will arrive assuming you are the attacker. That means:
- officers may approach with guns drawn,
- you may be handcuffed on sight, and
- the investigation will start with the assumption that you committed a crime.
If you acted to save your life, you need to pick up the phone immediately.
Not in five minutes. Not once you calm down.
Right away.
What to Say to 911: Three Sentences That Protect You
When you call 911, you are not delivering a confession. You are reporting a crime committed against you.
Keep it short, direct, and legally grounded. The following three sentences set the frame the right way:
- “I was attacked.”
This establishes that you are the victim. - “I was in fear for my life.”
This highlights the legal justification for using force, self-defense. - “Send an ambulance and the police.”
This shows you’re doing the right thing and reinforces that you’re the victim.
That’s it. You do not describe the weapon.
You do not say how many shots you fired.
You do not guess about what the attacker “might” have been doing.
Why?
Because adrenaline wrecks your brain’s ability to process timelines, count actions, and recall details accurately. It’s basic biology. When you’re in survival mode, your forebrain, that careful, logical storyteller, goes offline.
And if your well-intentioned ramblings don’t match later evidence, a prosecutor will call it “an inconsistent statement.”
Trust us: You don’t want your 911 call played back in a courtroom with the State arguing you lied.
What Happens When Officers Arrive
Police roll up to scenes like this expecting danger. If they see you still holding a firearm, they will treat you as a threat. That’s how people get hurt.
If you can do so safely:
- Holster your gun or place it on the ground.
- Step away from it.
- Keep your hands visible.
Officers may handcuff you. They may bark commands. They may be forceful.
That doesn’t mean you’re under arrest, it means they’re securing the scene.
This moment is your chance to clearly identify yourself as the victim without giving any details that can be used against you later.
Use these five simple statements:
- “Officer, I am the victim. I called 911.”
- “That person attacked me.” (Point to the aggressor.)
- “His weapon is over there.” (Point, don’t touch.)
- “Those people witnessed what happened.” (Identify any witnesses.)
- “I was in fear for my life and had to defend myself.”
These statements help police document the scene accurately and shift the investigative lens toward the attacker, where it belongs.
The Words You Must Never Say
Certain phrases practically guarantee that prosecutors will view your actions as anything but self-defense. Avoid anything that sounds speculative:
- “I think he was going to attack me.”
- “I assume he had a weapon.”
- “I believe he was coming at me.”
These statements tell the entire system that you weren’t sure.
And unsure people lose self-defense cases.
Stick to facts:
You were attacked.
You were in fear.
You defended yourself.
Nothing more.
Why You Should Not Give a Full Statement on Scene
After a self-defense incident, officers may try to calm you down and act like your buddy. You may hear:
“Just tell me exactly what happened so we can clear this up.”
or
“If I were in your shoes, I would’ve done the same thing.”
Don’t fall for it.
You are not calm.
You are not thinking clearly.
And you are physically incapable of giving a reliable account of events because your brain is still soaked in adrenaline.
A friendly officer cannot legally protect your statements.
But a prosecutor can, and will, use them against you.
This is where you need the most important phrase of the entire process:
“Officer, I want to cooperate, but I’m too shaken up right now.
I will not answer any questions without my attorney present.”
Then stop talking.
You cannot talk your way out of a jail cell.
But you absolutely can talk your way into one.
Why Protecting Yourself Isn’t About Hiding the Truth
Self-defense cases go wrong not because clients lied, but because they talked too much while under the worst stress of their lives. We’ve seen it repeatedly:
- A person guesses how many shots were fired and gets it wrong.
- A person misremembers the sequence of events.
- A person fills in details trying to “explain” what happened.
None of this is intentional deception, it’s the biology of survival. You are literally not thinking correctly.
But once it’s out of your mouth, it becomes evidence.
That’s why the smartest, safest, most responsible thing you can do is assert your right to remain silent until you have a criminal defense attorney guiding the process.
This isn’t being difficult.
This isn’t acting guilty.
As the Supreme Court has said time and again, the Fifth Amendment protects the innocent as much as the guilty. The right exists because the justice system is imperfect.
You can be completely justified and still prosecuted, unless you handle the aftermath correctly.
Recap: Your Self-Defense Aftermath Checklist
- Call 911 immediately.
The first caller is treated as the victim. - Keep your statements short.
- I was attacked.
- I was in fear for my life.
- Send an ambulance and the police.
- Do not give details.
Your brain is not capable of accuracy under extreme stress. - Make yourself safe and visible for police.
Holster or drop your firearm and show your hands. - Identify yourself as the victim when officers arrive.
Point out the attacker, the weapon, and witnesses. - Do not speculate.
No “I think,” “I believe,” or “I assumed.” - Lawyer up immediately.
Use the magic phrase:
“I want to cooperate, but I will not answer questions without my attorney.” - Stay silent until your attorney arrives.
You cannot help yourself by talking, but you can make things far worse.
Why Hiring the Right Criminal Defense Attorney Matters
Self-defense cases are high-stakes. Prosecutors scrutinize every detail, and one careless statement can shift the entire trajectory of the case.
At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we’ve helped countless people avoid charges, or win their cases outright, because they followed the steps outlined above. We understand the stress of these situations. We know how easily victims get mislabeled as suspects. And we know exactly how to protect your rights from the minute we get involved.
Your future deserves a legal team that takes self-defense seriously and fights to ensure that one terrifying moment doesn’t define the rest of your life.
Conclusion: Protect Your Life, and Your Freedom
If you’ve had to defend yourself, you’ve already lived through a nightmare. The aftermath shouldn’t become a second one.
Call 911 first.
Say only what the law requires.
Stay silent until your attorney is by your side.
The justice system is not built to give the benefit of the doubt.
But with the right guidance, you can protect yourself, your future, and your freedom.
If you or someone you love is facing charges after a self-defense incident in Indiana, call the Marc Lopez Law Firm at 317-632-3642.
We’re ready to talk through your options and help you regain control of your situation.
And remember, always plead the Fifth.
