# Criminal Law (GCR)

## Title 2. Homicide

### Subtitle 2. Murder and Manslaughter

#### Section 2-201

(a) A murder is in the first degree if it is:

  (1) a deliberate, premeditated, and willful killing;

  (2) committed by lying in wait;

  (3) committed by poison; or

  (4) committed in the perpetration of or an attempt to perpetrate:

    (i) arson in the first degree;

    (ii) burning a barn, stable, tobacco house, warehouse, or other outbuilding that:

      (1) is not parcel to a dwelling; and

      (2) contains cattle, goods, wares, merchandise, horses, grain, hay, or tobacco;

    (iii) burglary in the first, second, or third degree;

    (iv) carjacking or armed carjacking;

    (v) escape in the first degree from a State correctional facility or a local correctional facility;

    (vi) kidnapping under Sec. 3-502 or Sec. 3-503(a)(2) of this article;

    (vii) mayhem;

    (viii) rape;

    (ix) robbery under Sec. 3-402 or Sec. 3-403 of this article;

    (x) sexual offense in the first or second degree;

    (xi) sodomy as that crime existed before October 1, 2020; or

    (xii) a violation of Sec. 4-503 of this article concerning destructive devices.

(b)

  (1) A person who commits a murder in the first degree is guilty of a felony and on conviction shall be sentenced to:

    (i) imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole; or

    (ii) imprisonment for life.

  (2) Unless a sentence of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole is imposed in compliance with Sec. 2-203 of this subtitle and Sec. 2-304 of this title, the sentence shall be imprisonment for life.

(c) A person who solicits another or conspires with another to commit murder in the first degree is guilty of murder in the first degree if the death of another occurs as a result of the solicitation or conspiracy.

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Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)