A killing that occurs during the execution of a separate crime is classified as?

• A. Murder
• B. Felony murder
• C. Negligent homicide
• D. Stranger homicide

Answer: (B)

Felony murder treats a death that happens during the commission of a separate crime as murder, even if the person committing the felony didn’t intend to kill anyone. The idea is that the felonious act creates a dangerous situation, and the perpetrators are held responsible for any deadly outcome that flows from that act. For example, if someone robs a store and a security guard is killed during the robbery, the killer can be charged with murder under the felony murder rule, because the death occurred in the course of the felony.

This differs from ordinary murder, which requires intent to kill or a mindset of malice toward the victim. It also differs from negligent homicide, which involves death caused by careless, negligent conduct rather than the intentional commission of a felony. “Stranger homicide” isn’t a defining legal category for this scenario; the correct framework here is the felony murder rule, which is why this choice best fits the situation. Note that jurisdictions vary on which felonies qualify and how the rule is applied, but the core idea remains: death occurring during a felony can be charged as murder.