[zxcvbob]

I agree with HiBC about the old man, but what is the lesson here? A previous post suggests "reasonable force and then escalate as the attacker escalates". Why? Why not shoot or stab or a boot to the back of the head with no warning; either deadly force is justified or it's not. If you're not all-in, the attacker my turn the tables on you.

But you better be damn sure it is a forceable rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, etc, (and not some stupid people shooting a movie, or the person you think is the attacker is really the victim and got the upper hand) and what the state law says about what you think is happening.