Kalamazoo, MI asked in Criminal Law, Constitutional Law and Federal Crimes for Michigan

Q: Let's say a person from Michigan has beef with a person from Ohio. The person from Michigan gets in their car and drives

to Ohio and kills the person they have beef with. Is that considered federal felony murder because they crossed state lines to kill a person in another state? Will the murderer be charged with federal murder, Michigan state murder, and Ohio state murder? Also, are the US Codes all the laws Congress ever passed, including criminal and civil laws?

1 Lawyer Answer
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: Not necessarily. Federal criminal law is concerned with interstate commerce. Under your fact scenario, the person would be charged with murder in the state the murder happened: Ohio. Note that Ohio has the death penalty, unlike Michigan.

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