Section 271: Peace officer preventing escape from arrest

When a peace officer or police officer is proceeding lawfully to arrest, with or without
warrant, a person for an offence which is a felony, and is such that the offender may
be arrested without warrant, and the person sought to be arrested takes to flight in
order to avoid arrest, it is lawful for the peace officer or police officer and for any
person lawfully assisting him, to use such force as may be reasonably necessary to
prevent the escape of the person sought to be arrested, and, if the offence is such that
the offender may be punished with death or with imprisonment for seven years or
more, may kill him if he cannot by any means otherwise be arrested.