Manta49,
The threat of injury or death is "assault" in the United States. Add a knife, bat, gun, etc and it becomes "assault with a deadly weapon". These are felonies. The legal system determines if the above is justified or criminal in nature.
The issue with firing a shot, aimed or warning, is an act of deadly force. Deadly force can ONLY be justified when in *imminent* danger of grievous bodily harm or death. If one has the time to fire a warning shot, then how can the threat of grievous bodily harm or death be imminent?
Also, there exists the practical issue of proving the intent of your shot. To the police you will appear to be guilty of attempted murder (and being incompetent with a firearm).
I am typing this on my cell phone in a passenger van with shocks of dubious quality; I apologize for the typos I may have missed
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