Mississippi has long set forth a number of circumstances in which a person is justified in using defensive force, including deadly defensive force. The enumerated situations are: public officers and private citizens acting in furtherance of their job or a court order, i.e., executions, arrests, capture of felons; resisting an unlawful attempt to kill the defender or commit a felony upon him or any dwelling, occupied vehicle or place of employment; when lawfully defending himself or another in face of a plan to commit a felony or great personal injury against him; necessarily committed while trying to capture someone who committed a felony; or in suppression of a riot.[98]
While not justified, homicide is excusable when committed by accident and misfortune in doing any lawful act by lawful means, with usual and ordinary caution, and without any unlawful intent; when committed by accident and misfortune, in the heat of passion, upon any sudden and sufficient provocation; or when committed upon any sudden combat, without undue advantage being taken, and without any dangerous weapon being used, and not done in a cruel or unusual manner.[99]