Murder is a homicide charge involving the illegal killing of a person. For Long Beach, California, the law is outlined in California’s Penal Code 187a and is an unlawful killing that involves malice and premeditation. Malice means that there was an intention present to commit the crime or to cause harm. Malice aforethought occurs when those intentions of injury or knowing disregard for safety are found in causing someone’s death: a person killed another with the intention of doing so.