active shooter
noun
plural active shooters
: a person who is illegally using a firearm to kill or try to kill people especially in a public place : a person who is shooting at people
Stunned shoppers and mall employees initially mistook the sound of glass breaking for gunshots, leading to false rumors of an active shooter.—
Caitlin Antonios
Caitlin Antoniosactive shooter drills
Examples of active shooter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In September 2022, Memphis saw a shocking active shooter attack in which a 19-year-old suspect, Ezekiel Kelly, was accused of driving around the city and livestreaming multiple shootings in a rampage that killed four and injured three.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 7 May 2024
Parents waiting to reunify with their children expressed fear at hearing of an active shooter at the school in addition to the loss of a sense of security.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2024
An emergency alert was sent to residents' phones Wednesday morning, warning people of an active shooter at the middle school.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
The state Department of Justice suggests a drill could include a lockdown procedure for an active shooter situation, or reunification of students and families after an event.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
An active shooter was reported outside a Wisconsin middle school Wednesday, school officials said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 May 2024
After the 1999 massacre, states enacted lockdown and active shooter drills, according to a report from the Federal School Safety Commission.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
Research by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab suggests an association between active shooter drills and increases in depression, stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
The conversation on a recent night turned to active shooter drills, because a few of our kids had just gone through one at each of their schools.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 7 May 2024
Parents waiting to reunify with their children expressed fear at hearing of an active shooter at the school in addition to the loss of a sense of security.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2024
An emergency alert was sent to residents' phones Wednesday morning, warning people of an active shooter at the middle school.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 2 May 2024
The state Department of Justice suggests a drill could include a lockdown procedure for an active shooter situation, or reunification of students and families after an event.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
An active shooter was reported outside a Wisconsin middle school Wednesday, school officials said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 May 2024
After the 1999 massacre, states enacted lockdown and active shooter drills, according to a report from the Federal School Safety Commission.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
Research by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab suggests an association between active shooter drills and increases in depression, stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
The conversation on a recent night turned to active shooter drills, because a few of our kids had just gone through one at each of their schools.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'active shooter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Active shooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active%20shooter. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
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