A Case of Deadly Force is an American made-for-TV drama film that was released on April 9, 1986. The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, starring Richard Crenna, John Shea and Dylan Baker. It was adapted from the book Deadly Force by Lawrence O'Donnell. Plot Fact-based story about a 1975 cover-up of an unjustified shooting of a black man by two white members of the Boston Tactical Unit. While on stakeout on a suspected getaway car used in an armed robbery, the two gunned down a black man who entered the car. The two claimed the man had a gun and they shot in self-defense. Police investigation decided it was a rightful shooting. The man's widow (Lorraine Toussaint) knew her husband would not be carrying a weapon and became determined to prove her husband's innocence. She hired a former cop (Richard Crenna), who had become a lawyer, to prove her case. Working with his four sons (John Shea, Tate Donovan, Tom Isbell, and Dylan Baker), the lawyer team takes on the police force in what eventually proved to be a landmark legal decision. Cast Richard Crenna as Lawrence O'Donnell Sr. John Shea as Michael O'Donnell Lorraine Toussaint as Pat Bowden Francis X. McCarthy as Hanna (as Frank McCarthy) Tom Isbell as Billy O'Donnell Dylan Baker as Kevin O'Donnell Michael O'Hare as Joe Miller Tate Donovan as Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. Anna Maria Horsford as Virginia Cates (as Anna Marie Horsford) Anthony Heald as Dave O'Brian External links 1986 television films 1986 films 1986 crime drama films CBS network films American courtroom films American docudrama films 1980s English-language films Films based on non-fiction books Films set in 1975 Films set in Boston Films shot in Massachusetts Crime films based on actual events American crime drama films American drama television films Films directed by Michael Miller (director) 1980s American films