Which statement best identifies the Felony Murder classification?

• A. First-Degree Intentional Homicide
• B. Felony Murder
• C. Second-Degree Intentional Homicide
• D. Fourth-Degree Homicide

Answer: (B)

Felony murder hinges on the relationship between the crime and the death. It applies when a death occurs during the commission or attempted commission of a dangerous felony, and the killer’s intent to kill isn’t required. The liability comes from the dangerous felony itself, not from a stated intent to kill. For example, if someone robberizes a store and a bystander dies as a result, the offender can be charged with felony murder even if there was no plan or intention to kill that person. This makes felony murder a distinct category from homicide charged strictly on the perpetrator’s mental state or the specific degree of homicide. The option that uses the term Felony Murder is the one that correctly identifies this classification.