Homicide (Identify guilt and degree)
Alex punches Ben once during an argument. Ben falls, hits his head on the pavement, and dies.
Involuntary Manslaughter
Why?: No intent to kill, but reckless conduct caused death.
A person sneaks into a locker room and takes a wallet from an unlocked locker.
Larceny
Why?: Property was taken without consent. No deception was used.
A person lights a piece of paper on fire as a joke inside an empty parking garage and immediately stomps it out. Smoke damage occurs to nearby property.
Arson
Why?: Intentional ignition of material; intent to burn exists even if damage was not intended.
A delivery driver is buzzed into an apartment building to drop off food. While waiting for the elevator, they take a package left in the lobby.
Theft
Why?: Entry was lawful and unrelated to intent to steal; no unlawful remaining.
Alex punches Ben during an argument. Ben refuses medical treatment and dies later that night from internal bleeding.
Alex
Why?: Alex caused the injury that led to death. Refusal of medical care does not break causation
Jordan fires a gun into the air at a party. A bullet comes down and kills a neighbor blocks away.
Involuntary Manslaughter
Why?: Extremely dangerous and reckless behavior showing disregard for life.
A person tells a cashier they already scanned an item at self-checkout. The cashier nods without checking and allows them to leave.
Fraud
Why?: Cashier relied on a false statement to release the property.
A homeowner pours gasoline on a fire pit to make a flame bigger for guests. The fire flares unexpectedly and spreads.
Arson
Why?: Deliberate use of accelerant shows intent to cause burning beyond ordinary risk. (Intent)
A person attends an open house for a home listed for sale. While touring, they steal jewelry from a bedroom.
Theft
Why?: Entry was lawful and open to the public; intent formed after entry.
Jordan stabs Taylor. On the way to the hospital, the ambulance is hit by a drunk driver, and Taylor dies from the crash.
Drunk Driver
Why?: The drunk driver is a new, independent cause. Taylor dies from the crash, not the stab wound.
Taylor plans to scare her spouse by setting fire to a trash can near the house. The fire spreads and kills the spouse.
Felony Murder
Why?: Death occurred during commission of arson, a dangerous felony.
A person switches price tags in a store and pays $5 for a $50 item.
Fraud
Why?: The store relied on a false representation when completing the sale.
A person sets fire to their own old shed for entertainment, believing it is far from other buildings.
Arson
Why?: Ownership does not excuse intentional burning.
A person enters a friend’s house with permission to use the bathroom. Instead, they go into a bedroom and steal cash.
Theft
Why?: Entry was lawful; exceeding scope of permission does not automatically create burglary.
Taylor shoots Morgan in the leg during a heated argument. Doctors say the wound is survivable. While recovering in the hospital, Morgan secretly removes medical equipment and leaves against medical advice. Hours later, Morgan collapses from blood loss and dies.
Taylor
Why?: Taylor caused the original life-threatening injury. The victim's own poor decisions generally don't break causation.
Chris gets into a fight, leaves, cools off briefly, returns with a knife, and kills the other person.
First-Degree Murder
Why?: Cooling off period eliminates heat of passion. Premeditation and intent.
A person grabs a wallet from a gym locker, then lies to staff saying it belongs to them when confronted.
Larceny
Why?: The taking occurred before the deception. Lying afterward doesn't convert it to fraud.
A person lights fireworks near dry brush after being warned by multiple people that it could start a fire. They say, “Relax, it’ll be fine.”
Negligence
Why?: Conscious disregard of risk, but no intent to start a fire.
A person enters a convenience store during business hours, hides behind shelves until closing, and steals merchandise.
Burglary
Why?: Remaining unlawfully with intent to commit a crime.
Three people, Alex, Jordan, and Casey, agree to commit a robbery of a home they believe will be empty.
Alex drives everyone to the house and stays in the car with the engine running, acting as the lookout.
Jordan enters the house to search for valuables.
Casey follows Jordan inside but stays near the doorway, saying they “don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Unexpectedly, the homeowner comes downstairs. Jordan panics and strikes the homeowner with a weapon, killing them. Casey runs out of the house immediately. Alex drives everyone away.
All three
Why?: The killing occurred during the commission of a dangerous felony (robbery). Felony murder applies even without intent to kill. Accomplice liability applies to:
Alex (lookout and getaway driver)
Casey (entered the house and participated in the felony)
Jordan (direct actor)
Morgan and Riley plan to break into a house at night to steal jewelry. Morgan brings a gun "just in case," but says they do not plan to use it. During the burglary, the homeowner wakes up and confronts them. Morgan panics and fires, killing the homeowner.
Felony Murder
Why?: The death occurred during the commission of a dangerous felony (burglary)
A seller advertises a laptop as "barely used." The seller genuinely believes this, but the buyer later finds serious wear and demands a refund.
Neither
Why?: Fraud requires knowing deception. Larceny requires unlawful taking.
A property owner lights small controlled fires on their land to clear brush, knowing there is a high chance the fire could spread, but believing they can manage it. The fire spreads and causes major damage.
Negligence
Why?: Intent was land clearing, not destruction of property; high risk alone does not equal intent to burn unlawfully.
A cleaning worker is hired to clean a home until 6 p.m. After finishing early, they remain inside waiting for a ride and then steal jewelry.
Theft
Why?: Permission to be present had not clearly ended; no unlawful remaining at the moment intent formed.
Four people agree to rob a convenience store late at night.
Marcus helps plan the robbery and supplies masks.
Evan drives the group to the store and waits in the car.
Troy and Lena enter the store to steal cash.
Once inside, Lena sees an employee behind the counter and immediately runs back outside, telling Evan, “I’m out.” Troy stays inside, confronts the employee, and kills them during the robbery. Evan then drives Troy away.
Marcus, Evan, and Troy
(Not Lena)
Why?: Troy committed the killing. Evan continued assisting as the getaway driver. Marcus planned and enabled the felony. Lena clearly and timely withdrew before the killing.