Second degree? What the heck? He drives up to the church, walks in, shoots the pastor, and then runs away. If that’s not premeditation, what is?
Yep. Should be murder 1.
In Louisiana, a 1st Degree Murder charge has additional elements that must be met. Beyond premeditation, I believe one of the requirements is that some other listed crime be involved. Armed robbery, aggravated rape, etc. Which would explain why there are so many cold-blooded murderers in Angola, but relatively few on death row (2nd Degree Murder in LA doesn't have a capital punishment option).