Felony murder?

[Texas Star]

Some true cop shows like The First 48 charge people with both murder and felony murder.

I feel sure that all murder is a felony. What am I missing here?

 

[Muss Muggins]

In Missouri, you can get charged with felony murder if you’re just along for the ride and your associate murders someone . . .

Some true cop shows like The First 48 charge people with both murder and felony murder.

I feel sure that all murder is a felony. What am I missing here?

 

[Texas Star]

I thought it must be that. But think that some actual killers are charged with both.

 

[Onomea]

I wonder what sort of killing merits a misdemeanor murder charge?

 

[Rustyt1953]

Bing to the rescue:

How Murder And Felony Murder Are Defined In Texas

 

[m75rlg]

I wonder what sort of killing merits a misdemeanor murder charge?

That is the "old discharging a firearm into an occupied body" charge!

Seriously, the answer to this varies from state to state.

In N.C. the term "felony murder" generally refers to a charge of 1st degree murder based on the theory that one commiting any felony that causes the death of another individual, intentional or unintentional, personally or by the actions of a co-defendant, is guilty of 1st degree murder.

There is a charge of misdeameanor death by vehicle. That is causing the death of another unintentionally while violating a minor traffic regulation. There is also a felony death by vehicle if the traffic violation is one of the more serious charges.

 

[ContinentalOp]

In Missouri, you can get charged with felony murder if you’re just along for the ride and your associate murders someone . . .

I've also heard of it being used in self defense cases, i.e. defender shoots and kills one of the attackers, and the surviving attacker is charged with felony murder. Don't know how common that is.

 

[rockquarry]

Its a TV show - not to be taken seriously.

 

[Steve912]

I thought it must be that. But think that some actual killers are charged with both.

Also, if someone dies as a direct result of the commission of the
felony, regardless of the accused's intent.

Say Bozo robs a bank (felony), and shoots & kills a security guard--murder.

One of the bystanders in the bank has heart attack, falls to floor,
and dies--felony murder.

 

[Steve912]

I've also heard of it being used in self defense cases, i.e. defender shoots and kills one of the attackers, and the surviving attacker is charged with felony murder. Don't know how common that is.

That should fit the template, too.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I've also heard of it being used in self defense cases, i.e. defender shoots and kills one of the attackers, and the surviving attacker is charged with felony murder. Don't know how common that is.

Laws vary considerably from state to state, but generally "felony murder" takes place in any incident when two or more people acting in agreement and in concert to commit a criminal act during which the death of any person occurs.

In many cases the addition of the felony murder count is done as an incentive for a defendant to plea bargain and avoid a trial with possible consequences including a murder conviction. Example: armed robbery by two thugs, one gets killed by the victim, second thug charged with armed robbery and felony murder, pleads out to the armed robbery.

Prosecutors frequently charge every possible crime, and at the highest possible degree that can fit the facts, then the game show begins: Do you want door #1, door #2, door #3, or let the jury decide?

 

[Eric300]

I always liked the charge of 'Aggravated Murder'......Huh??

 

[k22fan]

Here's a real case in Washington from the news media. Bad guy was trying to out run a pursuing police cruiser. I forget why he was running and it does not matter. Another policeman was hit and killed while spreading tire shredding strips across the expected route of the fleeing criminal. If the felony of fleeing from the police had not been committed then the officer who died would not have been at risk on foot in the highway. The charge was felony murder. The news media did not follow up with the out come of the case.

 

[Texas Star]

So it seems to mean being involved in another felony, in which a murder also occurred?

 

[riverrat38]

Here are three more in Washington, I am assuming you're referring to the State, and not the other Washington.

Officer chasing a suspect on foot, officer has Heart Attack and dies.

Officer on motorcycle chasing 15 YO boy in car, officer crashes and dies.

Two men hold up a bank. Officers shoot and kill one of the suspects, the other suspect is charged with murder. It doesn't matter how the death occurred, its prosecuted as murder.

Best,
Rick

 

[Texas Star]

Its a TV show - not to be taken seriously.

NO! You misread my OP.

These shows involve real cases, not fiction. The actual detectives are shown working cases and filing charges on real suspects.

The same is so on the game warden shows on, Animal Planet, but charges there generally involve nothing more severe than poaching, not that isn't a real crime.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

"Felony murder" is charged against a felon participating in a crime when someone dies, whether a victim or another perpetrator, disregarding whether the participant committed the murder. Like a getaway driver. LEO shoots bank robber. Driver gets caught. Charged with felony murder. Two burglars break into a home. Homeowner kills one. The other is charged with felony murder. Two burglars break into a home. While Joe Tumbleweed is upstairs trying to break into the safe his henchman Marvin Nogoodnik kills the homeowner. Marvin gets charged with murder. Joe gets charged with felony murder. A murder/death that occurred during the commission of a felony. I am not sure if every jurisdiction retains this ancient crime but I bet most do.

 

[steelslaver]

My wife informed me that Montana only has Felonies and misdemeanor, no high misdemeanor or degrees of misdemeanor or felony

 

[Sarge9]

First 48, one of my fav shows. The guys in Tulsa rock.
Just so sad people die for a small of money or drugs.
Most vic's seem to have at least 1-child if not 4-6.

 

[rwsmith]

Is...

Is 'negligent homicide' considered a felony???

How about 'justifiable homicide' such as self defense?