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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51 — Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 4: Assaults and Bodily Woundings, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
If any person maliciously shoot, stab, cut, or wound any person or by any means cause him bodily injury, with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill, he shall, except where it is otherwise provided, be guilty of a Class 3 felony. If such act be done unlawfully but not maliciously, with the intent aforesaid, the offender shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

Official sources

Questions this section answers

Is maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated ranges from a class 6 felony to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4.

Maiming resulting from DUI - serious bodily injury: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4A) · Maiming resulting from DUI - permanent and significant physical impairment: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4B)

Is maiming, etc., of another resulting from operating a watercraft while intoxicated a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: maiming, etc., of another resulting from operating a watercraft while intoxicated ranges from a class 6 felony to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.5.

Maiming resulting from operating watercraft while intoxicated - serious bodily injury: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.5A) · Maiming resulting from operating watercraft while intoxicated - permanent and significant physical impairment: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.5B)

Is shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc ranges from a class 6 felony to a class 3 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.

Malicious shooting, stabbing, cutting, wounding, or causing bodily injury with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill: class 3 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51) · Unlawful (non-malicious) shooting, stabbing, cutting, wounding, or causing bodily injury with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51)

Which Virginia statute covers shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc?

Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51 (Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.