The felony murder rule is a legal doctrine that expands the definition of murder and makes criminal accomplices (including a lookout or getaway driver) as responsible for a death that occurs in the course of a dangerous felony crime as the person who directly caused the death by pulling the trigger of a gun, stabbing the victim with a knife, strangling the victim, or otherwise causing the victim’s death. Examples of dangerous felony crimes that implicate the felony murder rule include robbery, burglary, rape, aggravated kidnapping, carjacking, and arson.

When the felony murder rule applies, it may make a criminal accomplice liable for murder even if the criminals had agreed that no one would be killed in the course of the crime, and even if it is a fellow criminal who is killed in the course of the crime—such as when a police officer or security guard shoots a bank robber—which may result in all other accomplices to the crime being charged with murder.

In many states the felony murder rule—and any distinctions between the culpability of accomplices and principals to a crime—are located in the state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Oklahoma, the felony murder rule is codified in state statutes and is a component of the state's criminal law. Under Oklahoma law, the felony murder rule stipulates that if a homicide occurs during the commission of certain felonies, all participants in that felony can be charged with murder, regardless of their direct involvement in the death. This includes individuals who may have served as lookouts or getaway drivers. The underlying felonies typically include inherently dangerous crimes such as robbery, burglary, rape, kidnapping, arson, and others. The rule applies even if the death was accidental or unintended, and even if the deceased is one of the co-felons. This means that if a death occurs during the commission of a qualifying felony, all accomplices can be held criminally responsible for murder, which in Oklahoma can lead to severe penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on the circumstances.