History Main / ShootTheHostage

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' when the crew of the Nahel Argama learns that one of the refugees they rescued is actually Mineva Lao Zabi, the fugitive princess of Zeon, they try to use her as a hostage against the Neo-Zeons attacking them. Resident CharClone Full Frontal coldly informs them that, princess or not, their current mission is worth far more than the life of one girl and orders his men to open fire anyway. Possibly a TakeThat to a similar incident in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' where the antagonists did back down from putting their princess' life at stake.

* In ''Manga/ChainsawMan'', Denji finds himself on the losing end of a fight with Katana Man and takes one of his men hostage to force him to surrender. Katana Man, completely unfazed, cleaves ''both'' of them in half.

* An inanimate object example: in 2019, a hacker got hold of nude photos of Creator/BellaThorne and tried to blackmail her with them. Thorne [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/bella-thorne-posts-nude-photos-threats-alleged-hacker-1218717/ responded]] by releasing those photos herself.

A sufficiently skilled hero will just ShootTheHostageTaker. If the hero is less skilled but relatively nice, they'll just shoot the hostage in the leg, either to stop the bad guy from being able to take them with him or just to get them out of the way so they have a clean shot. If the hero is a particularly dark AntiHero, a full-on VillainProtagonist, on a revenge-fueled bender or has a certain enmity with the hostage, they might just shoot the bad guy [[OneHitPolykill through the hostage]] (and then possibly [[NiceJobBreakingItHero regret it later]]). However, if the hero is not a VillainProtagonist, then the shot will more than likely ''not'' be fatal to the hostage. And even when it is, it will ''never'' be done without hesitation and will ''always'' result in either a HeroicBSOD or DespairEventHorizon. Truth is, it doesn't matter how dark or "edgy" you want your anti-hero to be. taking the life of an innocent is an evil act, and, unless the hero shows remorse, it ''will'' make him a villain. Some media may even have the hostage beg the hero to kill them to stop to villain, so the hero's actions look more justified.

* In ''ComicBook/AvengersAcademy'', Marauder attacks the team, then tries to take a hostage once the instructors show up. Unfortunately for him, the hostage he grabbed was Boulder, whose only power is being NighInvulnerable. The instructors have absolutely no problem opening fire- end result, Marauder is taken down and Boulder is completely unscathed.
* While escaping from Devil's Island in ''ComicBook/CombatKellyAndHisDeadlyDozen'' #5, Laurie takes the commandant Major Strasser hostage, but Sgt. Schoen shoots Strasser dead so the escapees can't exploit him.
* The second arc of ''ComicBook/{{Copperhead}}'' climaxes when Sheriff Bronson takes Nestor hostage to confront Nestor's brother Zolo. Outgunned, Zolo shoots Nestor to spare him from the justice system.
* In an early issue of Marvel's ''[[ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel G.I. Joe]]'' run, the Joes take Cobra Commander hostage to escape his hideout. Colonel Brekhov of the rival Oktober Guard shoots Cobra Commander to prevent the Joes from escaping. It turns out though [[spoiler:CC was a body-double]] and the heroes get to get away anyway.
* Seen in the comic book ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'', where it only helps the protagonist. Assassin Constantine Drakon had shown the ability to catch arrows mid-flight, no matter how many were shot at him at once. Then he took not-yet-superheroine Mia Dearden hostage. Green Arrow Connor Hawke just shot him through her shoulder.
* Early in ''ComicBook/TheMaxx'', the villain Mr. Gone takes a hostage, threatening to kill them if Maxx didn't give up. Maxx proceeded to crush the hostage's head. It turned out it was just a mannequin, but neither of them knew that.

* In the comic book series ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'', during the Saint of Killer's StartOfDarkness miniseries, the man who doomed the Saint's family takes a prostitute hostage. The Saint shoots and kills her to get her out of the way... Expending his last bullet in the process and leaving him incapable of finishing off the villains, who promptly kill the Saint in return. And then there's the little issue about spilling innocent blood, which cements his damnation.
* The trope illustration is from ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'' #4. Afterwards, Woody explains to the stunned girl that he shot her with a harmless blood capsule to distract the hostage-taker, then [[HandsomeLech asks her out for a date.]]
* In ''ComicBook/RawhideKid: The Sensational Seven'', the Kid is face to face with BigBad Cresto Pike, who is holding two hostages in front of him: Wyatt Earp, and the Kid's father. Without hesitation, he shoots them down [[JustAFleshWound non-lethally]] before fatally shooting Cresto. He's a Western hero, he has ImprobableAimingSkills as a matter of course.
* In one issue of ''ComicBook/ThoseAnnoyingPostBros'', the original Caroline is kidnapped, in spite of that fact that Professor Ed made thousands of clones of her to prevent that. Henry tries to rescue her. [[spoiler:When he fails, Ron Post just kills her instead.]]
* In one issue of ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'', Magneto grabs Havok to use as a hostage to force the X-Men to stand down. Cyclops doesn't hesitate for a second to fire an optic blast through Havok to hit Magneto. Of course, as brothers, Cyclops and Havok are naturally immune to each other's powers, so Magneto takes the full force of the hit while Havok is unscathed.

* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'': [[BigBad Terrorist leader Dante]] is using Rico's handler Jean as a HumanShield, knowing that the cyborgs are brainwashed to protect their handler at all costs. Earlier however Jean made it clear that both their lives were expendable in order to kill Dante (Dante had planted the car bomb that killed Jean's parents, little sister, and fiancee), so Rico fires a 20mm anti-material shell through her handler's chest after Jean orders her to fire regardless.

If a hero tries to use a hostage, there's a high chance the BigBad will do this - without bothering to go for a non-lethal shot. In fact, they'll often prioritize killing the hostage over ''trying'' to hit the hero, [[VillainBall even if killing the hero is their goal]]. This makes taking a hostage highly ineffective against villains, unless you know they [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes really do care about the person]] or [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou still need them]]. If the hostage happens to be a HostageMacGuffin, [[RashEquilibrium shooting them]] is the quickest way for an AntiHero to solve a problem. And if a hero or villain deliberately target the hostage first for the sake of [[ColdBloodedTorture torturing his enemies]], this is RevengeByProxy. If the hostage is shot by someone that's not the one holding the hostage, or the one faced with the choice, see MakingTheChoiceForYou.

** In ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'', Han attracts the attention of local authorities on Coruscant when trying to access a bank account that had been flagged. He takes a bank manager hostage in order to escape. The Stormtroopers' response? Shoot the bank manager.
** In the first book of the ''Literature/LegacyOfTheForce'' series, a terrorist is holding a room full of people hostage. He wears an explosive belt and has strapped one of the hostages to himself to act as an HumanShield. [[GodModeSue Jacen Solo]] arrives at the scene and pretends to negotiate with the terrorist. He then turns to the unfortunate HumanShield, gently asks what his name is, appears to try calming the frightened man... then he says "I'm sorry" and ''activates the explosives himself.'' When [[WhatTheHellHero called out for it]], Jacen just replies that [[IDidWhatIHadToDo the only way he could save the other hostages and neutralize the terrorist was to let that single man die]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' episode "The Boiling Rock- Part 2," Sokka, Zuko, Suki, and Hakoda are breaking out of the eponymous prison, which is located on an island in a boiling lake inside the caldera of a volcano. Prisoners and staff are transported in and out via a tram. Sokka and Hakoda plan to hijack the tram with a hostage and simply ride to freedom. Suki points out that the warden will still cut the line, and Sokka's response is "Not if the warden ''is'' the hostage." Unfortunately for them, the warden lives up to the claim he'd made in the first part[[note]]"No one has ever escaped from this prison, and I'd rather jump into the boiling lake myself then let that reputation be tarnished."[[/note]] and orders his subordinates to cut the line.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': One ''WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror'' special had Bart upgrade himself into a cyborg to kill the robot son Homer replaced him with. Said robot son takes Homer hostage as a HumanShield, but Bart isn't in the mood to spare either of them and cuts both in half.

''(beat)''\\

-->-- ''Film/{{Speed}}'' (1994)

* ''Manga/CryingFreeman:'' Freeman explains to his nemesis, Toguko Oshu, that the wives of the leaders of the 108 Dragons are subject to this trope, to remove their value as objects of ransom. Oshu is unimpressed by the explanation. Perhaps rightfully so, as at the time, Freeman is facing him down to rescue one of his several wives.

* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl''. [[BigBad Terrorist leader Dante]] is using Rico's handler Jean as a HumanShield, knowing that the cyborgs are brainwashed to protect their handler at all costs. Earlier however Jean made it clear that both their lives were expendable in order to kill Dante (Dante had planted the car bomb that killed Jean's parents, little sister, and fiancee), so Rico fires a 20mm anti-material shell through her handler's chest after Jean orders her to fire regardless.

* Lina Inverse of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' doesn't just shoot the hostage, she launches a [[FantasticNuke Dragon Slave]] at the both of them.

If a hero tries to use a hostage, there's a high chance the BigBad will do this - without bothering to go for a non-lethal shot. In fact, they'll often prioritize killing the hostage over *trying* to hit the hero, [[VillainBall even if killing the hero is their goal]]. This makes taking a hostage highly ineffective against villains, unless you know they [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes really do care about the person]] or [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou still need them]]. If the hostage happens to be a HostageMacGuffin, [[RashEquilibrium shooting them]] is the quickest way for an AntiHero to solve a problem. And if a hero or villain deliberately target the hostage first for the sake of [[ColdBloodedTorture torturing his enemies]], this is RevengeByProxy. If the hostage is shot by someone that's not the one holding the hostage, or the one faced with the choice, see MakingTheChoiceForYou.

--> "Meh, I'm fine going one for two. [throws his [[InsistentTerminology spiky wheel]] into Sora's head.]

--> "Meh, I'm fine going one for two. [throws his [[InsistentTerminologyspiky wheel]] into Sora's head.]

A sufficiently skilled hero will just ShootTheHostageTaker. If the hero is less skilled but relatively nice, they'll just shoot the hostage in the leg, either to stop the bad guy from being able to take them with him or just to get them out of the way so they have a clean shot. If the hero is a particularly dark AntiHero, a full-on VillainProtagonist, on a revenge-fueled bender or has a certain enmity with the hostage, they might just shoot the bad guy [[OneHitPolykill through the hostage]] (and then possibly [[NiceJobBreakingItHero regret it later]]).

A sufficiently skilled hero will just ShootTheHostageTaker. If the hero is less skilled but relatively nice, they'll just shoot the hostage in the leg, either to stop the bad guy from being able to take them with him or just to get them out of the way so they have a clean shot. If the hero is a particularly dark AntiHero or on a revenge-fueled bender, they might just shoot the bad guy [[OneHitPolykill through the hostage]] (and then possibly [[NiceJobBreakingItHero regret it later]]).

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', [[spoiler: "revenge-fueled bender" version which cements Sasuke as an AntiVillain. When Danzo takes Karin hostage, Sasuke shoots a Chidori blade through both of them, hitting Danzo in the heart. Sasuke then [[KickTheDog tells her if she's getting taken hostage, that makes her nothing but a burden]]]].

* In an early issue of Marvel's ''[[ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel G.I. Joe]]'' run, the Joes take Cobra Commander hostage to escape his hideout. Colonel Brekhov of the rival Oktober Guard shoots Cobra Commander to prevent the Joes from escaping. It turns out though [[spoiler: CC was a body-double]] and the heroes get to get away anyway.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': [[spoiler: President Coin orders a bombing attack on children being used as human shields by President Snow -- and makes it appear that the attack was initiated by Snow, in order to destroy any remaining public support for Snow's regime. Sadly, especially for Katniss, Prim is among these.]]

* This trope doesn't work so well if the hostage is a powerful mage capable of casting a [[ShockAndAwe Lightning Bolt]] that can incinerate both hostage-taker and shooter, as [[http://www.errantstory.com/2003-03-19/73 Meji]], the protagonist of ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'', [[http://www.errantstory.com/2003-03-21/74 demonstrates]].

* In ''Webcomic/TheHandbookOfHeroes'' comic [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/hostage-crisis "Hostage Crisis"]], Witch takes Elf Princess hostage. Inquisitor resolves the situation by simply stabbing through them both. Resurrection magic exists in this world, after all.
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': the heroic [[spoiler: Dirk Strider]] is being held at swordpoint by the villainous [[spoiler: Lord Jack]], who is in turn being held at swordpoint by the [[ALighterShadeOfBlack semi-villainous]] [[spoiler: Spades Slick]]. The heroic [[spoiler: Dave Strider]] decapitates all three with a single sword stroke. In this case, the heroes have an ally with [[BackFromTheDead resurrection powers]].

* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', [[spoiler: Weaver shoots and kills two hostages--including a toddler--held by the [[SerialKiller Slaughterhouse Nine]] (although one turns out to be a Nice Guy clone disguised as a hostage), because they were otherwise destined for a FateWorseThanDeath, there was no way to tell that the Nine hadn't already turned them into weapons, and there was a chance that the toddler would experience a TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening and cause TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.]]

If a hero tries to use a hostage, there's a high chance the BigBad will do this - without bothering to go for a non-lethal shot. This makes taking a hostage highly ineffective against villains, unless you know they [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes really do care about the person]] or [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou still need them]]. If the hostage happens to be a HostageMacGuffin, [[RashEquilibrium shooting them]] is the quickest way for an AntiHero to solve a problem. And if a hero or villain deliberately target the hostage first for the sake of [[ColdBloodedTorture torturing his enemies]], this is RevengeByProxy. If the hostage is shot by someone that's not the one holding the hostage, or the one faced with the choice, see MakingTheChoiceForYou.

* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', [[spoiler: Weaver shoots and kills a hostage held by the [[SerialKiller Slaughterhouse Nine]], because the hostage-a toddler-was otherwise destined for a FateWorseThanDeath, and because there was a chance that the child would experience a TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening and cause TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.]]