Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502 (2026)

Murder.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 2502. Murder.

(a) Murder of the first degree.--A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing.

(b) Murder of the second degree.--A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the second degree when it is committed while defendant was engaged as a principal or an accomplice in the perpetration of a felony.

(c) Murder of the third degree.--All other kinds of murder shall be murder of the third degree. Murder of the third degree is a felony of the first degree.

(d) Definitions.--As used in this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Fireman." Includes any employee or member of a municipal fire department or volunteer fire company.

"Hijacking." Any unlawful or unauthorized seizure or exercise of control, by force or violence or threat of force or violence.

"Intentional killing." Killing by means of poison, or by lying in wait, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing.

"Perpetration of a felony." The act of the defendant in engaging in or being an accomplice in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing, or attempting to commit robbery, rape, or deviate sexual intercourse by force or threat of force, arson, burglary or kidnapping.

"Principal." A person who is the actor or perpetrator of the crime.

(Mar. 26, 1974, P.L.213, No.46, eff. imd.; Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.84, No.39, eff. 60 days)

Cross References. Section 2502 is referred to in sections 2506, 2507, 2602, 5702, 5708, 6105 of this title; section 5329 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); sections 1515, 5551, 9711.1, 9718, 9802 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); sections 3903, 4103, 5007, 6139, 7122 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2,047 cases (504 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Wright, 961 A.2d 119 (Pa. 2008).

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Commonwealth v. Wright, 961 A.2d 119 (Pa. 2008). · cites it 12× “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a); Commonwealth v. Spotz, 563 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Clancy, J., Aplt., 192 A.3d 44 (Pa. 2018). · cites it 12× “(citing 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502; [In Cold Blood,] MERRIAM-W EBSTER’S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY 224 (10th ed.”

Commonwealth v. Robinson, 877 A.2d 433 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 14× “2d 346 (1972), 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502 and 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711 were part of the same statute.”

Karim Eley v. Charles Erickson, 712 F.3d 837 (3rd Cir. 2013). · cites it 8× “After a joint trial with Lester Eiland and Edward Mitchell in the Dauphin County Common Pleas Court, a jury convicted Eley of second-degree murder, 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502 (b), robbery, § 3701, and conspiracy to commit robbery, § 903, for his role in the murder and robbery of…”

Commonwealth v. Jones, 912 A.2d 268 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 8× “18 Pa.C.S. § 2502. This specific intent may be transferred to an unintended victim.”

Commonwealth v. Burno, J., Aplt., 154 A.3d 764 (Pa. 2017). · cites it 6× “In this direct appeal from the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, Burno challenges the admissibility of his confession to the murders, the sufficiency of the evidence, the alleged denial of his right to a speedy trial, and the admissibility of certain evidence establishing…”

Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 889 A.2d 501 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 6× “18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a); Commonwealth v. Spotz, 563 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Johnson, W., Aplt, 139 A.3d 1257 (Pa. 2016). · cites it 4× “In 1991, the Commonwealth charged Johnson with first-degree murder, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a), criminal conspiracy, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Johnson, C., Aplt., 107 A.3d 52 (Pa. 2014). · cites it 9× “2d 346 (1972) (interpreting the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause of the Eighth Amendment to hold that death sentences — as then applied — were unconstitutional), 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502 and 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711 were part of the same statute, and the “perpetration of a felony”…”

Commonwealth v. Pagan, 950 A.2d 270 (Pa. 2008). · cites it 6× “[*] This is a direct appeal from the imposition of two sentences of death arising out of appellant's two convictions for first degree murder (18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a)), and lesser sentences imposed for his convictions for two counts of robbery (18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. DeJesus, 860 A.2d 102 (Pa. 2004). · cites it 6× “NOTES [1] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502. [2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 6108.”

Commonwealth v. Williams, 896 A.2d 523 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 6× “18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a). To sustain a first degree murder conviction, the evidence must establish: (1) a human being was unlawfully killed; (2) the defendant did the killing; and (3) the killing was committed in a willful, deliberate, and premeditated way.”

Show all 2,047 citing cases →

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(1) — 1 case

Com. v. Bocelli, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(A) — 1 case

Com. v. Batchler, L. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(B) — 3 cases

Com. v. Joseph, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).

Com. v. Scott, K. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023).

Com. v. Pendelton, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2014).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(a) — 1008 cases

Commonwealth v. Burno, J., Aplt., 154 A.3d 764 (Pa. 2017). “In this direct appeal from the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, Burno challenges the admissibility of his confession to the murders, the sufficiency of the evidence, the alleged denial of his right to a speedy trial, and the admissibility of certain evidence establishing…”

Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 839 A.2d 202 (Pa. 2003).

Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 889 A.2d 501 (Pa. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a); Commonwealth v. Spotz, 563 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Clancy, J., Aplt., 192 A.3d 44 (Pa. 2018). “(citing 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502; [In Cold Blood,] MERRIAM-W EBSTER’S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY 224 (10th ed.”

Commonwealth v. Wright, 961 A.2d 119 (Pa. 2008). “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a); Commonwealth v. Spotz, 563 Pa.”

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(a)(1) — 4 cases

Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 902 A.2d 430 (Pa. 2006).

Com. v. Harper, S. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).

Com. v. Bradley, A. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022).

Com. v. Watson, N. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(a)(2) — 3 cases

Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 902 A.2d 430 (Pa. 2006).

Com. v. Horton, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2021).

Com. v. Laboy, R. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(a)(3) — 1 case

Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 902 A.2d 430 (Pa. 2006).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(a)(l) — 1 case

Com. v. Han, K. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(b) — 255 cases

Commonwealth v. Wright, 961 A.2d 119 (Pa. 2008). “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a); Commonwealth v. Spotz, 563 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Rainey, 928 A.2d 215 (Pa. 2007).

Karim Eley v. Charles Erickson, 712 F.3d 837 (3rd Cir. 2013). “After a joint trial with Lester Eiland and Edward Mitchell in the Dauphin County Common Pleas Court, a jury convicted Eley of second-degree murder, 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502 (b), robbery, § 3701, and conspiracy to commit robbery, § 903, for his role in the murder and robbery of…”

Commonwealth v. Williams, 896 A.2d 523 (Pa. 2006). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a). To sustain a first degree murder conviction, the evidence must establish: (1) a human being was unlawfully killed; (2) the defendant did the killing; and (3) the killing was committed in a willful, deliberate, and premeditated way.”

Com. of Pa. v. Jordan, 182 A.3d 1046 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(b)(1) — 1 case

Michaels v. Harry (M.D. Penn. 2020).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(b)(d) — 1 case

Com. v. Cogmon, M. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(c) — 514 cases

Commonwealth v. Johnson, W., Aplt, 139 A.3d 1257 (Pa. 2016). “In 1991, the Commonwealth charged Johnson with first-degree murder, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a), criminal conspiracy, 18 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Spotz, 896 A.2d 1191 (Pa. 2006).

Com. v. Jones, C., 271 A.3d 452 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2021).

Commonwealth v. Polimeni, 378 A.2d 1189 (Pa. 1977).

Commonwealth v. Fisher, 80 A.3d 1186 (Pa. 2013).

— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2502(d) — 168 cases

Commonwealth v. Robinson, 877 A.2d 433 (Pa. 2005). “2d 346 (1972), 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502 and 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711 were part of the same statute.”

Commonwealth v. Wright, 961 A.2d 119 (Pa. 2008). “See 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a); Commonwealth v. Spotz, 563 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Clemons, J., Aplt., 200 A.3d 441 (Pa. 2019).

Commonwealth v. DeJesus, 860 A.2d 102 (Pa. 2004). “NOTES [1] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502. [2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 6108.”

Commonwealth v. Blakeney, 946 A.2d 645 (Pa. 2008).

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