Why didn’t Riker do something else in The Vengeance Factor?

Question

In the final scene of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Vengeance Factor" (episode 9 of season 3), why did Riker

It is clearly said in previous scenes (by Dr. Beverly Crusher) that a microvirus, embodied in Yuta, was only harmful to members of the clan with which Yuta’s clan was fighting. If so, couldn't he simply use force? Like catch her, and block her from reaching Brull or doing anything less harmful? If he wouldn't have enough force, I think that Worf was somewhere close to help him.

In my opinion, "The Vengeance Factor" is one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But its final scene is simply terrible. Was it really necessary to end it in such a poor / lame / American-western-like way (where every "evil" must eventually die at the movie’s end)?

Valorum · Accepted Answer

The script simply indicates that he had "no choice". He'd tried lower settings (which she'd proven resistant to) and she was intent on reaching her victim:

Riker lowers the phaser, extends his other hand toward Yuta -- 
  
  Riker : come on... (Yuta pauses) - I'm... sorry.
  
  As Yuta whirls, reaches to touch Chorgan -- and Riker FIRES.
  
  The stun charge shakes Yuta up -- but she remains conscious, recovers
  her footing. Riker changes the phaser setting, FIRES again. It
  knocks Yuta back. But she keeps coming.
  
  Riker has no choice. He adjusts the phaser --
  
  RIKER : Don't --
  
  Yuta reaches for Chorgan again -- And Riker FIRES. Setting eight.
  Vaporize. And Yuta's gone.

Why didn’t Riker do something else in The Vengeance Factor?

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