Suge Knight -- Victim's Family Says Murder was 'Retaliation'

The family of the man Suge Knight ran over and killed says Suge was not engaged in self defense ... it was pure vengeance.

Terry Carter's family lawyer tells TMZ, the video we posted graphically showing Suge's truck striking and killing Carter, has no scent of self defense. The attorney claims Suge was gunning for Bone and Carter ended up as collateral damage.

The attorney says, "The death was caused by unnecessary acts of violence initiated by Cle [Bone] Sloan attacking Mr. Knight and Mr. Knight choosing to retaliate by using his motor vehicle as a deadly weapon."

The lawyer says Suge had an easy means of escape but was so enraged by Bone's aggressiveness he targeted Bone and Carter was simply in the path.

The attorney adds Carter did nothing to provoke the situation, and Suge is lying when he says Carter set him up.