Pictured Above: Christopher Shumey. Source: San Luis Obispo Police Department.

Last weekend, officers were called to an apartment building after neighbors heard gun shots. Christopher Shumey was in his apartment holding a gun and allegedly fired on officers as they entered the apartment. Officers got Shumey to surrender his gun and no officers were hurt. After officers investigated the apartment, they saw the dead body of Karen Lee Shumey, Christopher Shumey’s mother. Karen had allegedly been shot by Christopher after they had gotten into an argument at the apartment. Christopher was arrested on suspicion of murder and assault with a firearm against an officer.

California Penal Code Section 187 defines murder as the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. Malice can be express or implied. It is express when there is a deliberate intention to kill. It is implied when there is an abandoned and malignant heart. A person convicted of murder faces the death penalty, life in prison without the possibility of parole, prison/jail time, probation, and fines. The severity of the punishment is dependent on aggravating or mitigating factors as well as prior convictions.

Common defenses to murder include self defense, insanity, insufficient proof of evidence, and factual innocence. If you are charged with murder, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.