A recent high profile story out of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania regarding details on the shooting death of a Phoenixville teen emerged recently on Thursday and bring to light the criminal issues associated with the crime of Robbery and how it is related to 2nd degree murder charges. The Phoenixville story discusses allegations that a Mr. Jayson Ortiz-Cameron along with several other individuals had been allegedly planning to commit a robbery during an alleged drug deal at a Phoenixville Dunkin Donuts. murder transferred intent According to authorities, Mr. Ortiz-Cameron was killed during the alleged marijuana deal and robbery. The issues that this case brings to light are issues dealing with Robbery and the criminal ramifications when an alleged victim dies as a result of a robbery. In order for a criminal defendant to be found guilty of 2nd degree murder, the government must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
Defendant was engaged as an accomplice or primary actor in the commission of a violent felony (such as robbery) and someone was killed in the course of the commission of the underlying crime (robbery). If these facts are present-meaning all of the defendants agreed to rob someone, and during the robbery the intended victim was shot by one of the defendants, then all of the defendants could be found guilty of second degree murder and face life in prison (even if shooting the victim was never part of the initial plan). manslaughter Although facts are still coming in, authorities in the above case will have to assess whether or not the individual that was killed was trying to rob the other individual and was shot when the other individual was acting in possible self-defense or id the victim was in the process of being robbed and was shot during the robbery. Make sure to contact the former prosecutors and Murder lawyers at the Bellwoar Kelly, LLP if you have any questions or are being investigated or have been charged with a crime.
