A Florida woman received a criminal charge of murder after one man shot another during a robbery attempt. The woman and a 23-year-old man met a month prior to the incident and eventually made another date to meet. The man arrived at the address, but, instead of a date, he was met by three men who allegedly attempted to rob him.
The 23-year-old man pulled out a gun and fired at them. One of the men was shot in the chest during the altercation. The female took the injured man to the hospital for treatment. Hospital staff was unable to save the man. The report states that the bullet responsible for his death put a hole in his lung, heart and aorta.
The police investigation included an interview with the man who shot the gun. He told police officials that he had been lured to the home under the guise of a date by the woman and that the three men were waiting for him. Police say that the woman admitted that she lured the man to the house. Police detained her and she faces charges of second-degree murder. She is currently being held in jail without bond.
The murder charge is a result of Florida’s felony murder laws, which allow co-conspirators in a felony to be charged with second-degree murder if someone dies during the commission of certain felonies, even if they had no intent to kill or direct participation in the murder. In this case, the man who pulled the trigger may not be charged as his actions may be considered self-defense; however, the individuals accused of participating in a robbery will also be charged with causing the man’s death. While the charges are very serious, a defense lawyer may help the woman have her charges reduced.
Source: The Tampa Tribune, “Man kills would-be robber; woman arrested”, November 29, 2013