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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02 (2026)

Murder

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
June 30, 1998
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 5 - 122nd General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) No person shall purposely cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy.

(B) No person shall cause the death of another as a proximate result of the offender's committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence that is a felony of the first or second degree and that is not a violation of section 2903.03 or 2903.04 of the Revised Code.

(C) Division (B) of this section does not apply to an offense that becomes a felony of the first or second degree only if the offender previously has been convicted of that offense or another specified offense.

(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of murder, and shall be punished as provided in section 2929.02 of the Revised Code.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2,056 cases (805 in the last 5 years), 1976–2026 · leading case: State v. Johnson, 2010 Ohio 6314 (Ohio 2010).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Johnson, 2010 Ohio 6314 (Ohio 2010). · cites it 15× “Rance overruled — Felony murder, R.C. 2903.02(B), and child endangering, R.”
State v. Williams, 2010 Ohio 147 (Ohio 2010). · cites it 30× “He maintains that he can be convicted of only one count of attempted murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02, because, he asserts, when felonious assault is the felony of violence underlying a charge of attempted murder pursuant to R.”
State v. Shine-Johnson, 2018 Ohio 3347 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 16× “01; one count of murder, in violation of R.C. 2903.02; and one count of tampering with evidence, in violation of R.”
State v. Young, 2020 Ohio 462 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 19× “18AP-630 and 18AP-631 2 November 6, 2015, appellant was indicted on one count of murder pursuant to R.C. 2903.02(A) with a firearm specification, one count of murder pursuant to R.”
State v. Fry, 2010 Ohio 1017 (Ohio 2010). · cites it 8× “01(A), and Count Three charged him with felony murder, R.C. 2903.02. {¶ 4} Fry was also charged with six additional counts: Count Four — aggravated burglary, Count Five — domestic violence on July 18, 2005, Count Six — domestic violence on July 31, 2005, Count Seven — tampering…”
State v. McKelton (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5735 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 4× “Pretrial Background {¶ 2} In February 2010, the state charged McKelton with the murder of Allen, R.C. 2903.02(B), and the aggravated murder of Evans, R.”
State v. Miller, 2002 Ohio 4931 (Ohio 2002). · cites it 9× “Felony Murder {¶21} The newly enacted felony murder statute, R.C. 2903.02, became effective on June 30, 1998, well before the crimes occurred in this case.”
State v. Bond, 2022 Ohio 4150 (Ohio 2022). · cites it 8× “Facts and procedural background {¶ 2} Bond was indicted by a Richland County grand jury on two counts of murder, one under R.C. 2903.02(A) and one under R.C. 2903.02(B), each with a firearm specification under R.”
State v. Montgomery (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5487 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 4× “50 January Term, 2016 1051, ¶ 193. In addition, we must consider the following statutory mitigating factors: victim inducement; duress, coercion, or strong provocation; mental disease or defect; youth; lack of significant criminal history; accomplice only; and any other relevant…”
State v. Walker (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 8295 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 4× “During a bar fight, Dajhon Walker knowingly killed Antwon Shannon, and for that act Walker was properly convicted of felony murder under R.C. 2903.02(B). But the evidence did not show that this killing was done with prior calculation and design as required to sustain a…”
State v. Williams (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 7658 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 4× “13(F), for punishment for the crime of MURDER, Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.02, a special felony; for a definite term of LIFE WITH PAROLE after Thirty (30) years, which is a mandatory term pursuant to O.”
State v. Messenger, 2021 Ohio 2044 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 6× “Facts and Procedural History {¶ 2} By indictment filed March 7, 2019, plaintiff-appellee, State of Ohio, charged Messenger with one count of murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02, an unclassified felony; and one count of felony murder in violation of R.”
Show all 2,056 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(2) — 1 case
State v. Spivey, 2013 Ohio 851 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(8) — 2 cases
State v. Sanders, 2019 Ohio 30 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Davis, 2023 Ohio 487 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(A) — 971 cases
State v. Williams, 2010 Ohio 147 (Ohio 2010). “He maintains that he can be convicted of only one count of attempted murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02, because, he asserts, when felonious assault is the felony of violence underlying a charge of attempted murder pursuant to R.”
State v. Young, 2020 Ohio 462 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “18AP-630 and 18AP-631 2 November 6, 2015, appellant was indicted on one count of murder pursuant to R.C. 2903.02(A) with a firearm specification, one count of murder pursuant to R.”
State v. Barnes, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (Ohio 2002).
State v. Bond, 2022 Ohio 4150 (Ohio 2022). “Facts and procedural background {¶ 2} Bond was indicted by a Richland County grand jury on two counts of murder, one under R.C. 2903.02(A) and one under R.C. 2903.02(B), each with a firearm specification under R.”
State v. Montgomery (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5487 (Ohio 2016). “50 January Term, 2016 1051, ¶ 193. In addition, we must consider the following statutory mitigating factors: victim inducement; duress, coercion, or strong provocation; mental disease or defect; youth; lack of significant criminal history; accomplice only; and any other relevant…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(A)(1) — 7 cases
State v. Morris, 2018 Ohio 830 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. King, 2013 Ohio 4791 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Norris, 2013 Ohio 1010 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Myers, 2012 Ohio 660 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Mayle, 2018 Ohio 2511 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(A)(2) — 4 cases
State v. Barker, 2023 Ohio 453 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Williams, 2025 Ohio 1151 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
State v. Wanzo, 2013 Ohio 2085 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Gill, 2026 Ohio 748 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(A)(3) — 1 case
Sims, Jr. v. Gray (N.D. Ohio 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(A)(B) — 4 cases
State v. Austin, 686 N.E.2d 324 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996).
State v. Austin, 2018 Ohio 3727 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Goe, 2025 Ohio 4866 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
State v. Jewell, 2026 Ohio 2062 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(A)(D) — 36 cases
State v. Novoa, 2021 Ohio 3585 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Shaw, 2013 Ohio 5292 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Matland, 2010 Ohio 6585 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
State v. Helms, 2010 Ohio 4872 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
State v. Magby, 2019 Ohio 877 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(A)(D)(B) — 1 case
State v. Mitchell, 2025 Ohio 4658 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(B) — 1027 cases
State v. Johnson, 2010 Ohio 6314 (Ohio 2010). “Rance overruled — Felony murder, R.C. 2903.02(B), and child endangering, R.”
State v. Williams, 2010 Ohio 147 (Ohio 2010). “He maintains that he can be convicted of only one count of attempted murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02, because, he asserts, when felonious assault is the felony of violence underlying a charge of attempted murder pursuant to R.”
State v. McKelton (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5735 (Ohio 2016). “Pretrial Background {¶ 2} In February 2010, the state charged McKelton with the murder of Allen, R.C. 2903.02(B), and the aggravated murder of Evans, R.”
State v. Walker (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 8295 (Ohio 2016). “During a bar fight, Dajhon Walker knowingly killed Antwon Shannon, and for that act Walker was properly convicted of felony murder under R.C. 2903.02(B). But the evidence did not show that this killing was done with prior calculation and design as required to sustain a…”
State v. Miller, 2002 Ohio 4931 (Ohio 2002). “Felony Murder {¶21} The newly enacted felony murder statute, R.C. 2903.02, became effective on June 30, 1998, well before the crimes occurred in this case.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(B)(1) — 2 cases
State v. Samueal, 2023 Ohio 3322 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Smith, 2022 Ohio 2455 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(B)(2) — 1 case
State v. Grube, 2013 Ohio 692 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(B)(D) — 13 cases
State v. Schaeffer, 2015 Ohio 3531 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Dumas, 2015 Ohio 2683 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Dawson, 2017 Ohio 2957 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Becker, 2023 Ohio 601 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. McGee, 2013 Ohio 4165 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(B)(D)(B) — 1 case
State v. Kennedy, 2025 Ohio 1330 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(C) — 2 cases
State v. Bacon, 2016 Ohio 618 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Davis, 2013 Ohio 1748 (Ohio 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(D) — 13 cases
State v. Blouir, 2022 Ohio 1222 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
State v. Underwood, 2024 Ohio 2273 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Omenai, 2024 Ohio 1571 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Evans, 2015 Ohio 3208 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
State v. Richardson, 2015 Ohio 4708 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(E)(1) — 1 case
State v. Carpenter, 2023 Ohio 2838 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(F) — 1 case
State v. Mathis, 2022 Ohio 2291 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(G) — 1 case
State v. Mathis, 2022 Ohio 2291 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(a) — 1 case
State v. Jennings, 2018 Ohio 3871 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.02(b) — 1 case
In re Williams, 2011 Ohio 4338 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
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