State v. Woods
Ohio Supreme Court
48 Ohio St. 2d 127 (1976)
- Written by Sharon Feldman, JD
Facts
Roland Reaves and Ricardo Woods (defendants) planned to rob a store by holding up the manager as he exited. Reaves and Woods parked near the store and, armed with guns, waited for the manager to leave. Reaves climbed onto the roof, and Woods kept watch. The police were notified that someone was on the store’s roof. Reaves descended when he heard a fire-department siren. Reaves and Woods were walking away when a police cruiser pulled up. Reaves and Woods both shot the officer after he emerged from the cruiser. The officer died. Reaves and Woods were convicted of aggravated murder for purposely causing the officer’s death while fleeing after an attempt to commit aggravated robbery and knowing the victim was a police officer. The convictions were affirmed. Reaves and Woods appealed, arguing that aggravated murder should have been reduced to murder because there was insufficient evidence to prove attempted robbery, or because Reaves and Woods had abandoned their criminal purpose.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Stern, J.)
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