Woman was being r@ped at knife point, officer arrives and open fires on assailant, ending him.

Woman was being r@ped at knife point, officer arrives and open fires on assailant, ending him.

Was using a sidearm Justified in this instance?
The scenario you are describing has occurred in real life, with one prominent example happening in Baltimore, Maryland, in November 2022, where a police officer fatally shot a man who was attacking a woman with a knife. 

In this specific case:

Incident: Officers in Baltimore responded to a report of an assault.

Police Action: Upon arrival, police encountered a man, identified as Tyree Moorehead, armed with a knife and attacking a woman. The officer began shooting at the suspect, who moved away from the victim while still armed.

Outcome: Officers removed the knife and provided medical attention to the suspect, who was then taken to the hospital where he died. The woman sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The officers were not injured.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW 
 

Similar incidents where police have shot and killed a rape or sexual assault suspect armed with a knife have also been reported in other locations, such as Oklahoma City, where an officer was later cleared by a grand jury for the use of force. These incidents are generally investigated by independent divisions or grand juries to determine if the use of force was justified given the imminent threat to the victim's life or the officer's safety.