Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51 (2026)

Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc

✓ current as of May 2026

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If any person maliciously shoot, stab, cut, or wound any person or by any means cause him bodily injury, with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill, he shall, except where it is otherwise provided, be guilty of a Class 3 felony. If such act be done unlawfully but not maliciously, with the intent aforesaid, the offender shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

Code 1950, § 18.1-65; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 474 cases (133 in the last 5 years), 1976–2026 · leading case: Johnson v. Commonwealth, 709 S.E.2d 175 (Va. Ct. App. 2011).

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Johnson v. Commonwealth, 709 S.E.2d 175 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 62× “Edward Johnson (appellant) appeals his convictions under Code §§ 18.2-51 and 18.2-41 for malicious wounding and maiming by mob, respectively.”

Campbell v. Commonwealth, 405 S.E.2d 1 (Va. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 42× “[Code § 18.2-51] requires the intent to disfigure.”

Johnson v. Commonwealth, 669 S.E.2d 368 (Va. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 24× “Code § 18.2-51 provides that "[i]f any person maliciously shoot, stab, cut, or wound any person or by any means cause him bodily injury, with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill," he is guilty of malicious wounding.”

English v. Commonwealth, 715 S.E.2d 391 (Va. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 25× “The trial court found Jermaine Antoine English guilty of maliciously causing bodily injury in violation of Code § 18.2-51. On appeal, English challenges the sufficiency of the evidence offered to convict him of this offense.”

Ferguson v. Commonwealth, 658 S.E.2d 692 (Va. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 18× “Following a bench trial, Kenneth Ferguson (appellant) was convicted of unlawful wounding in violation of Code § 18.2-51 and felony *694 child neglect in violation of Code § 18.”

Hall v. Commonwealth, 421 S.E.2d 455 (Va. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 16× “2-53, two counts of malicious wounding in violation of Code § 18.2-51, and one count of aggravated malicious wounding in violation of Code § 18.”

James Edward Williams v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 767 S.E.2d 252 (Va. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 12× “James Edward Williams was convicted of malicious wounding in violation of Code § 18.2-51. On appeal, Williams argues that the trial court erred in denying jury instructions for the lesser-included offense of unlawful wounding.”

Scott Edward Knight v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 733 S.E.2d 701 (Va. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 19× “Scott Edward Knight (appellant) was convicted at a bench trial in the Circuit Court of the City of Staunton of four counts of malicious wounding in violation of Code § 18.2-51, and three counts of felony destruction of property in violation of Code § 18.”

Washington v. Com., 634 S.E.2d 310 (Va. 2006). · cites it 9× “FACTS AND MATERIAL PROCEEDINGS BELOW Washington was indicted for one count of malicious wounding "after having been twice convicted of a violent felony" in violation of *312 Code § 18.2-51 and § 19.2-297.1, and one count of violating Code § 18.”

United States v. Cuong Gia Le, 316 F. Supp. 2d 355 (E.D. Va. 2004). · cites it 28× “And, the precise question with regard to count twelve is whether, as defendants contend, it is necessary for the elements of a generic assault with a dangerous weapon to match— element-by-element — with the crime of malicious or unlawful wounding, as defined in Virginia law,…”

Gary Alexander Cuffee v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 735 S.E.2d 693 (Va. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 6× “Gary Alexander Cuffee (appellant) appeals his convictions for two counts of attempted malicious shooting in violation of Code §§ 18.2-51 and -26, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony (attempted malicious shooting) in violation of Code § 18.”

Long v. Commonwealth, 379 S.E.2d 473 (Va. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 6× “Code § 18.2-51 proscribes the infliction of bodily injury upon another “by any means.”

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