Murder in North Carolina law

Murder in North Carolina law constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of North Carolina.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in the year 2020, the state had a murder rate somewhat above the median for the entire country.

Elements
First-degree murder in North Carolina is defined as occurring when a person "kills... another living human being":
 * (a) (i) with malice and
 * (ii) with a specific intent to kill formed after premeditation and deliberation,
 * (b) by poisoning, lying in wait, imprisonment, starvation, or torture,
 * (c) while committing or attempting arson, rape, sex offense, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, or any felony in which a deadly weapon is used, or
 * (d) by means of a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon of mass destruction.

Second-degree murder only requires that a person kill another living human being with malice.