2507 - Criminal homicide of law enforcement officer.
§ 2507. Criminal homicide of law enforcement officer. (a) Murder of a law enforcement officer of the first degree.--A person commits murder of a law enforcement officer of the first degree who intentionally kills a law enforcement officer while in the performance of duty knowing the victim is a law enforcement officer. (b) Murder of a law enforcement officer of the second degree.--A person commits murder of a law enforcement officer of the second degree who engages as a principal or an accomplice in the perpetration of a felony during which a law enforcement officer is killed while in the performance of duty. (c) Manslaughter of a law enforcement officer in the first degree.--A person commits a felony in the first degree who does any of the following: (1) Without lawful justification kills a law enforcement officer while in the performance of duty and with knowledge that the victim was a law enforcement officer, if at the time of the killing: (i) the person is acting under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation by the victim killed; or (ii) the person is acting under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation by another individual whom the actor endeavors to kill, but the person negligently or accidentally causes the death of the victim. (2) Intentionally or knowingly kills a law enforcement officer while in the performance of duty and with knowledge that the victim was a law enforcement officer, if at the time of the killing the person believes the circumstances to be such that, if they existed, would justify the killing under Chapter 5 (relating to general principles of justification), but his belief is unreasonable. (d) Manslaughter of a law enforcement officer in the second degree.--A person commits a felony of the second degree who, as a direct result of the doing of an unlawful or lawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, causes the death of a law enforcement officer while in the performance of duty and the person knew or should have known the victim was a law enforcement officer. (e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection: "Law enforcement officer." This term shall have the same meaning as the term "peace officer" is given under section 501 (relating to definitions). "Perpetration of a felony." As defined under section 2502(d) (relating to murder). (Oct. 17, 2008, P.L.1628, No.131, eff. 60 days) 2008 Amendment. Act 131 added section 2507.