Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105 (2026)

First degree murder; classification

✓ current as of May 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section AZ-LEGazleg.gov (official) JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

A. A person commits first degree murder if:

1. Intending or knowing that the person's conduct will cause death, the person causes the death of another person, including an unborn child, with premeditation or, as a result of causing the death of another person with premeditation, causes the death of an unborn child.

2. Acting either alone or with one or more other persons the person commits or attempts to commit sexual conduct with a minor under section 13-1405, sexual assault under section 13-1406, molestation of a child under section 13-1410, terrorism under section 13-2308.01, marijuana offenses under section 13-3405, subsection A, paragraph 4, dangerous drug offenses under section 13-3407, subsection A, paragraphs 4 and 7, narcotics offenses under section 13-3408, subsection A, paragraph 7 that equal or exceed the statutory threshold amount for each offense or combination of offenses, involving or using minors in drug offenses under section 13-3409, drive by shooting under section 13-1209, kidnapping under section 13-1304, burglary under section 13-1506, 13-1507 or 13-1508, arson under section 13-1703 or 13-1704, robbery under section 13-1902, 13-1903 or 13-1904, escape under section 13-2503 or 13-2504, child abuse under section 13-3623, subsection A, paragraph 1 or unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle under section 28-622.01 and, in the course of and in furtherance of the offense or immediate flight from the offense, the person or another person causes the death of any person.

3. Intending or knowing that the person's conduct will cause death to a law enforcement officer, the person causes the death of a law enforcement officer who is in the line of duty.

B. Homicide, as prescribed in subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section, requires no specific mental state other than what is required for the commission of any of the enumerated felonies.

C. An offense under subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section applies to an unborn child in the womb at any stage of its development. A person shall not be prosecuted under subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section if any of the following applies:

1. The person was performing an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman, or a person authorized by law to act on the pregnant woman's behalf, has been obtained or for which the consent was implied or authorized by law.

2. The person was performing medical treatment on the pregnant woman or the pregnant woman's unborn child.

3. The person was the unborn child's mother.

D. First degree murder is a class 1 felony and is punishable by death or life imprisonment as provided by sections 13-751 and 13-752.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 384 cases (51 in the last 5 years), 1980–2026 · leading case: State v. Thompson, 65 P.3d 420 (Ariz. 2003).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

State v. Thompson, 65 P.3d 420 (Ariz. 2003). · cites it 16× “Thompson challenges the constitutionality of the statute, arguing that it renders first degree murder indistinguishable from second degree murder. A person commits second degree murder in Arizona "if without premeditation.”

State v. Lopez, 847 P.2d 1078 (Ariz. 1992). · cites it 23× “Is A.R.S. § 13-1105(A)(2) unconstitutional in making child abuse a predicate offense for felony-murder? 8.”

State v. Anderson, 111 P.3d 369 (Ariz. 2005). · cites it 10× “A.R.S. § 13-1105. Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, in addition to requiring an intent to kill, requires proof of an agreement to commit first-degree murder.”

Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002). · cites it 4× “" Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1105 (C) (West 2001).”

State v. Atwood, 832 P.2d 593 (Ariz. 1992). · cites it 12× “On May 15, 1985, the Pima County Grand Jury indicted defendant for first degree felony murder pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-1105. The kidnapping and murder charges were consolidated for trial.”

State v. LaGrand, 734 P.2d 563 (Ariz. 1987). · cites it 16× “2d 340 (1984); and second, failure to give lesser included offense instructions, in contrast to charges under A.R.S. § 13-1105(A)(1) (premeditated murder), violates equal protection.”

State v. Cruz, 181 P.3d 196 (Ariz. 2008). · cites it 11× “A.R.S. § 13-1105(A)(3) (2004). The only aggravating circumstance was the (F)(10) aggravator: The murdered person was an on duty peace officer who was killed in the course of performing the officer’s official duties and the defendant knew, or should have known, that the murdered…”

Date v. Schriro, 619 F. Supp. 2d 736 (D. Ariz. 2008). · cites it 22× “At the time of Petitioner’s trial, first degree murder under A.R.S. § 13-1105 was considered a “specific intent” crime, requiring the specific intent to kill another person.”

State v. Dann, 74 P.3d 231 (Ariz. 2003). · cites it 8× “” See A.R.S. §§ 13-1105(A) (2001) (first degree murder); 13-1203(A) (2001), -1204(A)(l)-(3) (2001) (assault); 13-1507(A) (2001), -1508(A) (2001) (burglary).”

Vo v. Superior Court, 836 P.2d 408 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 16× “In this special action from the trial court’s denial of defendants’ motion to dismiss, or in the alternative, to remand to the grand jury for a redetermination of probable cause, we must decide whether the killing of a fetus can constitute first degree murder under A.R.S. §…”

Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624 (1991). · cites it 6× “, Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1105 .A (1989) (theft not such a predicate).”

State v. Ring, 25 P.3d 1139 (Ariz. 2001). · cites it 8× “Justice O’Connor noted that because A.R.S. § 13-1105(0 “itself authorizes both life imprisonment and the death penalty,” id.”

Show all 384 citing cases →

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(1) — 2 cases

State v. Hon blair/taveras (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021).

State v. Hon. blair/taveras (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(2) — 2 cases

Lemke v. Rayes, 141 P.3d 407 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006).

State v. Bishop, 698 P.2d 1240 (Ariz. 1985).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(A) — 25 cases

State v. Anderson, 111 P.3d 369 (Ariz. 2005). “A.R.S. § 13-1105. Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, in addition to requiring an intent to kill, requires proof of an agreement to commit first-degree murder.”

State v. McKinney, 917 P.2d 1214 (Ariz. 1996).

State v. Dann, 74 P.3d 231 (Ariz. 2003). “” See A.R.S. §§ 13-1105(A) (2001) (first degree murder); 13-1203(A) (2001), -1204(A)(l)-(3) (2001) (assault); 13-1507(A) (2001), -1508(A) (2001) (burglary).”

State v. Bible, 858 P.2d 1152 (Ariz. 1993).

State v. Scott, 865 P.2d 792 (Ariz. 1993).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(A)(1) — 92 cases

State v. Thompson, 65 P.3d 420 (Ariz. 2003). “Thompson challenges the constitutionality of the statute, arguing that it renders first degree murder indistinguishable from second degree murder. A person commits second degree murder in Arizona "if without premeditation.”

State v. LaGrand, 734 P.2d 563 (Ariz. 1987). “2d 340 (1984); and second, failure to give lesser included offense instructions, in contrast to charges under A.R.S. § 13-1105(A)(1) (premeditated murder), violates equal protection.”

State v. Walton, 650 P.2d 1264 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1982).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(A)(2) — 104 cases

State v. Lopez, 847 P.2d 1078 (Ariz. 1992). “Is A.R.S. § 13-1105(A)(2) unconstitutional in making child abuse a predicate offense for felony-murder? 8.”

State v. Herrera, 850 P.2d 100 (Ariz. 1993).

State of Arizona v. Jamonte Lawrence Olague, 381 P.3d 269 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016).

State v. Wiley, 698 P.2d 1244 (Ariz. 1985).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(A)(3) — 7 cases

State v. Cruz, 181 P.3d 196 (Ariz. 2008). “A.R.S. § 13-1105(A)(3) (2004). The only aggravating circumstance was the (F)(10) aggravator: The murdered person was an on duty peace officer who was killed in the course of performing the officer’s official duties and the defendant knew, or should have known, that the murdered…”

State of Arizona v. Edward James Rose, 297 P.3d 906 (Ariz. 2013).

Eric Clark v. James Arnold, 769 F.3d 711 (9th Cir. 2014).

State v. Delahanty, 250 P.3d 1131 (Ariz. 2011).

United States v. Alejandro Umana, 750 F.3d 320 (4th Cir. 2014).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(A)(5) — 1 case

Vo v. Superior Court, 836 P.2d 408 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1992). “In this special action from the trial court’s denial of defendants’ motion to dismiss, or in the alternative, to remand to the grand jury for a redetermination of probable cause, we must decide whether the killing of a fetus can constitute first degree murder under A.R.S. §…”

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(B) — 18 cases

State v. Woratzeck, 657 P.2d 865 (Ariz. 1982).

State v. Nash, 694 P.2d 222 (Ariz. 1985).

State v. Cabanas-Salgado, 92 P.3d 421 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003).

State v. Lucas, 794 P.2d 1353 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990).

State of Arizona v. Edward James Rose, 297 P.3d 906 (Ariz. 2013).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(C) — 20 cases

State v. Ring, 25 P.3d 1139 (Ariz. 2001). “Justice O’Connor noted that because A.R.S. § 13-1105(0 “itself authorizes both life imprisonment and the death penalty,” id.”

State v. Davolt, 84 P.3d 456 (Ariz. 2004).

Bottoson v. Moore, 833 So. 2d 693 (Fla. 2002).

State v. Harrod, 26 P.3d 492 (Ariz. 2001).

State v. Fell, 97 P.3d 902 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(D) — 4 cases

In Re King, 136 P.3d 878 (Ariz. 2006).

In re Edgar V., 158 P.3d 206 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007).

State v. Davis (Ariz. Ct. App. 2026).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-1105(c) — 1 case

Howell v. State, 151 S.W.3d 450 (Tenn. 2004).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.