Murder in Virginia law

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

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

Felony murder rule
In the state of Virginia, the common law felony murder rule is codified at Code of Virginia §§ 18.2-32, 18.2-33. This rule provides that anyone who kills another human being during the perpetration or attempted perpetration of arson, rape, forcible sodomy, inanimate or animate object sexual penetration, robbery, burglary or abduction is guilty of first degree murder.