suspected gunman?

[Rich Coyle]

"Two civilians were also shot, but their condition is unknown. Authorities have not yet disclosed the condition of the other four officers who were shot.

The suspected gunman was shot by officers and is "no longer a threat," the sheriff's office said. The suspect is believed to be dead."

How in the world do they use the word "suspected" when they shot the guy shooting at them? The term "gunman" would be more appropriate.

 

[adam32]

Everyone is a suspect until proven guilty...it's pretty ridiculous.

 

[HARPERC]

It depends on a couple of things 1) The statement was issued by someone without first hand knowledge. Qualifying what one only knows indirectly is appropriate regardless of the situation. 2) If I was one of those with first hand knowledge, my response would be to colorful to print or show in by responsible media.

 

[MtPockets]

Reminds me of the time I read in the newspaper about the police finding a body in the trunk of a car.
They ruled the death "suspicious".
Got to wonder what they are thinking, sometimes...

 

[Gregg C]

A long time ago, an article was printed locally about an attempted rape here in Tucson. Too long ago for verbatim recounting, but generally, a single mom living with her 12yr old daughter was accosted by a man who broke in and tried to rape her. She had a pistol that she got a hold of, pointed it at the scumbag and pulled the trigger. The weapon did not discharge, I suspect an empty chamber. Anyway, the sorry specimen took off running. This part I do remember verbatim...from the article,...."Luckily, the woman's weapon misfired, and the alleged assailant escaped on foot." I quit buying or reading the paper after that disgusting bit of slanted, biased politically correct trash. It still fires me up, after 30 years or so.
Gregg