Armed Robbery of Georgia Store Ends in Employee’s Death

Police are still searching for the suspect who allegedly robbed an auto parts store in Gwinnett County at gunpoint.

The armed robbery happened last week around 8:00pm according to reports. One of the employees was shot and died at the scene.

Armed robbery in Georgia is very serious and the criminal charges vastly change when a death occurs as the result of a felony. As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the offense of felony murder in today's post.

Felony Murder in Georgia

Georgia Law defines felony murder in Georgia in the following statute:

“A person commits the offense of murder when, in the commission of a felony, he or she causes the death of another human being irrespective of malice.” O.C.G.A. §16-5-1(c).

A person is considered to be in the commission of a crime if he or she:

• Directly commits the crime;
• Causes some other person to commit the crime under such circumstances that the other person is not guilty of any crime either in fact or because of legal incapacity;
• Aids or abets in the commission of the crime; or
• Advises, encourages, hires, counsels, or procures another to commit the crime.

In order for the state of Georgia to convict an individual of felony murder, they must show that he or she is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the prosecution must demonstrate that the accused person either attempted or completed a felony that is deemed serious or inherently dangerous under Georgia law. 

The penalty for a felony murder conviction is a life sentence in prison without parole, the death penalty, or life in prison.

Practice Note

Call our offices today if you or a loved one has been arrested in the state of Georgia.