{"id":377147,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:16","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/washington-law\/washington-second-degree-murder-law.html"},"modified":"2025-08-12T07:15:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T12:15:01","slug":"washington-second-degree-murder-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/washington-law\/washington-second-degree-murder-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Washington Second-Degree Murder Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Washington Second-Degree Murder Law<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Under Washington state law, murder is the killing of a human being by deliberate act, failure to act, or directing another person to act for you. In Washington, there is no requirement that the victim die within a certain amount of time after the act.<\/p>\r\n

The state of Washington\u2019s criminal code defines several types of homicide, with multiple degrees of murder. First-degree murder requires premeditation more than \u201ca moment [at] a point in time.\u201d Second-degree murder is an intentional killing without premeditation. It also includes the death of a person during the commission of another felony.<\/p>\r\n

Washington formally abolished the death penalty in 2023. The most serious penalty any defendant faces for the crime of murder is life imprisonment without possibility of parole (LWOP).<\/p>\r\n

Washington Second-Degree Murder<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Murder in the first degree<\/a> has three required elements: premeditation, intent, and the death of another person. Second-degree murder only requires intent and the death of another. In simple terms, second-degree murder occurs when a defendant wants to kill someone and then does it. First-degree murder requires an additional level of planning.<\/p>\r\n

Second-degree murder is a Class A felony<\/b>. Washington\u2019s felony classifications determine the minimum sentence for a crime as well as considering aggravating and mitigating circumstances.<\/p>\r\n

Felony Murder<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Felony murder<\/a> occurs when a defendant causes the death of a person during the commission of another felony crime. Defendants can also face felony murder charges if someone dies during the planning of the crime or in immediate flight from the crime. Defendants can face felony murder charges even if the death was unintentional.<\/p>\r\n

First-degree felony murder happens if a death occurs during one of five enumerated felonies:<\/p>\r\n