What is the term for knowingly causing a person's death through reckless behavior?

The term that refers to knowingly causing a person's death through reckless behavior is manslaughter. This concept encompasses actions where the perpetrator exhibits a disregard for human life but does not possess the intent to kill with premeditation. In cases of manslaughter, the individual might engage in conduct that is extremely reckless or negligent, leading to another person's death, but their state of mind is less culpable than that required for a murder charge.

Manslaughter is typically categorized into voluntary and involuntary types. Involuntary manslaughter, which is most pertinent here, involves unintentional killing resulting from reckless conduct or criminal negligence.

The choice of intentional murder would imply a conscious decision made to take another person's life, which contrasts with the recklessness nature of manslaughter. Second-degree murder also requires a level of intent or malice, and while it is a serious crime, it involves more than just reckless behavior without intent to kill. Negligent homicide refers generally to a death caused by negligence, but the key aspect of reckless behavior aligns more closely with the definition of manslaughter rather than negligent homicide.