District of Columbia § 22-2101 Murder in the first degree — Purposeful killing; killing while perpetrating certain crimes.

District of Columbia Statutes

§ 22-2101 — Murder in the first degree — Purposeful killing; killing while perpetrating certain crimes.

District of Columbia § 22-2101

Title 22Criminal Offenses and Penalties.

Ch. 21Murder; Manslaughter.

This text of District of Columbia § 22-2101 (Murder in the first degree — Purposeful killing; killing while perpetrating certain crimes.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

D.C. Code § 22-2101 (2026).

Text

Whoever, being of sound memory and discretion, kills another purposely, either of deliberate and premeditated malice or by means of poison, or in perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate an offense punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary, or without purpose to do so kills another in perpetrating or in attempting to perpetrate any arson, as defined in § 22-301 or § 22-302 , first degree sexual abuse, first degree child sexual abuse, first degree cruelty to children, mayhem, robbery, or kidnaping, or in perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate any housebreaking while armed with or using a dangerous weapon, or in perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate a felony involving a controlled substance, is guilty of murder in the first degree. For purposes of imprisonment following revocation 

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Whoever, being of sound memory and discretion, kills another purposely, either of deliberate and premeditated malice or by means of poison, or in perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate an offense punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary, or without purpose to do so kills another in perpetrating or in attempting to perpetrate any arson, as defined in § 22-301 or § 22-302 , first degree sexual abuse, first degree child sexual abuse, first degree cruelty to children, mayhem, robbery, or kidnaping, or in perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate any housebreaking while armed with or using a dangerous weapon, or in perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate a felony involving a controlled substance, is guilty of murder in the first degree. For purposes of imprisonment following revocation of release authorized by § 24-403.01(b)(7) , murder in the first degree is a Class A felony.

Legislative History

Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1321, ch. 854, § 798; June 12, 1940, 54 Stat. 347, ch. 339; Sept. 26, 1992, D.C. Law 9-153, § 2(a), 39 DCR 3868; May 23, 1995, D.C. Law 10-257, § 401(b)(1), 42 DCR 53; May 16, 1998, D.C. Law 12-113, § 2, 44 DCR 6931; June 8, 2001, D.C. Law 13-302, § 4(a), 47 DCR 7249