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 2019, deputies designing active shooter training in Marina del Rey accidentally started a fire while testing a flashbang trainer, a nonexplosive version of a flashbang, or stun grenade.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
The lawsuit notes that state troopers did not follow their active shooter training or confront the shooter, even as the students and teachers inside were following their own lockdown protocols of turning off lights, locking doors and staying silent.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 23 May 2024
An investigation published in December by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and FRONTLINE found that about 72% of the at least 116 state and local officers who arrived at the school before the gunman was killed had received some form of active shooter training during their careers.
—Lomi Kriel, ProPublica, 23 May 2024
Lawrence testified about how juveniles tend toward impulsivity and how a youth would have difficulty handling a highly emotional situation like an active shooter event.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2024
An emergency alert was also sent to residents' phones warning of an active shooter at the middle school.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2024
My younger sister called me and said there was an active shooter at Jackie’s school.
—Michelle Tauber, Peoplemag, 24 May 2024
The idea for the active shooter kits came from one of the officers who was shot and injured that day: Officer Jack Blowers, Bokhari said.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024
Experts say the best response to an active shooter is a forceful one.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 22 May 2024
Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
The lawsuit notes that state troopers did not follow their active shooter training or confront the shooter, even as the students and teachers inside were following their own lockdown protocols of turning off lights, locking doors and staying silent.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 23 May 2024
An investigation published in December by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and FRONTLINE found that about 72% of the at least 116 state and local officers who arrived at the school before the gunman was killed had received some form of active shooter training during their careers.
—Lomi Kriel, ProPublica, 23 May 2024
Lawrence testified about how juveniles tend toward impulsivity and how a youth would have difficulty handling a highly emotional situation like an active shooter event.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2024
An emergency alert was also sent to residents' phones warning of an active shooter at the middle school.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2024
My younger sister called me and said there was an active shooter at Jackie’s school.
—Michelle Tauber, Peoplemag, 24 May 2024
The idea for the active shooter kits came from one of the officers who was shot and injured that day: Officer Jack Blowers, Bokhari said.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024
Experts say the best response to an active shooter is a forceful one.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 22 May 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 10 Jun. 2024.
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