Which action constitutes aggravated homicide according to NY law?

• A. Killing a police officer in the line of duty
• B. Killing a child under 14 while the defendant is over 18 in cruel and wanton manner
• C. Killing during a traffic violation
• D. Killing a family member in self-defense

Answer: (A)

In NY law, aggravated homicide is the more serious category that applies when the murder is committed with a recognized aggravating factor, such as harming a police officer in the line of duty. Killing a police officer is treated as an especially egregious offense because the officer is performing an essential public service, so the law imposes harsher penalties by elevating the crime to aggravated homicide. The other scenarios described involve serious harm, but they don’t automatically meet the specific aggravating factor defined for aggravated homicide in the standard statute, which is why the officer-in-the-line-of-duty case is the best fit for this category.