Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2501 (2026)

  Criminal homicide.

✓ current as of May 2026 Cite as: 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2501 (2026)
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CHAPTER 25

CRIMINAL HOMICIDE

 

Sec.

2501.  Criminal homicide.

2502.  Murder.

2503.  Voluntary manslaughter.

2504.  Involuntary manslaughter.

2505.  Causing or aiding suicide.

2506.  Drug delivery resulting in death.

2507.  Criminal homicide of law enforcement officer.

 

Enactment.  Chapter 25 was added December 6, 1972, P.L.1482, No.334, effective in six months.

Cross References.  Chapter 25 is referred to in sections 911, 2602, 3502 of this title; section 5432 of Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries); sections 2511, 3103, 5329, 6344 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); sections 5750, 5985.1, 5993, 6302, 9774.1 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

§ 2501.  Criminal homicide.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person is guilty of criminal homicide if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently causes the death of another human being.

(b)  Classification.--Criminal homicide shall be classified as murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter.

 

Cross References.  Section 2501 is referred to in section 5708 of this title; section 4503 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 369 cases (62 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Robinson
Commonwealth v. Robinson (2004) pa · cites it 4× “[7] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501; 18 Pa.C.S. § 901. [8] 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Sanchez (2011) pa · cites it 3× “On August 3, 2007, appellant was charged with one count each of criminal homicide, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501(a); robbery, 18 Pa.C.S.”
Commonwealth v. Cousar (2007) pa · cites it 2× “He also suggests that there was no evidence that the perpetrator specifically intended to cause the victim's death. To obtain a conviction for first-degree murder, the Commonwealth must demonstrate that a human being was unlawfully killed; that the defendant did the killing; and…”
Com. v. Lehman, P. (2022) pasuperct · cites it 2× “3 Respectively, 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2501(a), 2702(a)(1), 2702(a)(4), and 4910(1).”
Commonwealth v. Santiago (2004) pa · cites it 2× “[2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501(a). [3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i).”
Commonwealth v. Polimeni (1977) pa · cites it 4× “" 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501(a). The Code then states that "[c]riminal homicide [is] classified as murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter.”
In The Interest of J.B. Appeal of: J.B. (2018) pa · cites it 2× “Standard of Review As this case involves the interpretation and application of the standard for appellate review of a sufficiency-of-the-evidence claim, and because we find this claim dispositive for reasons set forth herein, we begin with a review of the development and…”
Commonwealth v. Garcia (1977) pa · cites it 4× “A standard which gives the court discretion to refuse to charge the jury on a lesser included offense when, in the court's judgment, there is no "rational basis" for such a verdict, invites the court to weigh the evidence, and is inconsistent with the jury's power to believe…”
Commonwealth v. Hilliard (2017) pasuperct · cites it 2× “” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501. Additionally, “[t]he use of a deadly weapon on a vital part of the human body is sufficient to establish the specific intent to kill.”
Commonwealth v. Markman (2007) pa · cites it 2× “See 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2501; 2502(a, d); Commonwealth v.”
Commonwealth v. Clancy, J., Aplt. (2018) pa · cites it 2× “The Commonwealth charged Clancy with criminal homicide, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501, and carrying a firearm without a license, 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Fears (2003) pa · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501. [2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 6301.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2501(a) — 184 cases
Commonwealth v. Sanchez (2011) pa “On August 3, 2007, appellant was charged with one count each of criminal homicide, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501(a); robbery, 18 Pa.C.S.”
Com. v. Lehman, P. (2022) pasuperct “3 Respectively, 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2501(a), 2702(a)(1), 2702(a)(4), and 4910(1).”
Commonwealth v. Santiago (2004) pa “[2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501(a). [3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i).”
Commonwealth v. Robinson (2004) pa “[7] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501; 18 Pa.C.S. § 901. [8] 18 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2501(a)(1) — 3 cases
Com. v. Stern, N. (2017) pasuperct
Com. v. Connelly, S. (2023) pasuperct
Com. v. Becker, M. (2015) pasuperct
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2501(b) — 11 cases
Commonwealth v. Polimeni (1977) pa “" 18 Pa.C.S. § 2501(a). The Code then states that "[c]riminal homicide [is] classified as murder, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter.”
Com. v. Peck, M., Jr. (2019) pasuperct
Commonwealth v. Barone (1980) pasuperct
Baker v. Horn (2005) paed
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2501(c) — 1 case
Com. v. Perez-Escobales, J. (2025) pasuperct
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