drive-by killing

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Definition

Noun: - A homicide committed by shooting from a moving automobile: This term specifically refers to a murder where the perpetrator fires a gun from a vehicle that is in motion, typically without stopping, and then flees the scene.

Usage
  • This term is used in legal, journalistic, and law enforcement contexts to describe a specific method of committing murder.
  • It is a compound noun, typically hyphenated as "drive-by killing" or written as a single phrase "driveby killing."
  • It often implies a planned or targeted attack, frequently associated with gang violence or organized crime.
Examples
  • The gang war escalated with a series of drive-by killings in the city's north side.
  • Police are investigating the drive-by killing of a local shop owner last night.
  • Witnesses described the vehicle used in the drive-by killing as a dark-colored sedan.
Advanced Usage
  • The term can be used metaphorically in non-violent contexts to describe a swift, impersonal, and damaging act, though this is less common and often considered informal or figurative.
    • The company's decision felt like a drive-by killing of the entire marketing department—sudden, remote, and devastating.
Variants and Related Words
  • Drive-by shooting (n.): A broader term that can refer to any shooting from a moving vehicle, which may result in injury or death, not necessarily homicide.
  • Drive-by (n., adj.): Often used as a shortened, informal form to modify other nouns (e.g., , ).
  • Assassination (n.): A murder, typically of a prominent person, for political or monetary reasons. A drive-by killing can be a method of assassination.
Synonyms
  • Shooting murder
  • Ambush killing (if the element of surprise from a vehicle is emphasized)
Related Phrases
  • To carry out a drive-by: The verbal phrase describing the act of committing such a crime.
    • The gang was accused of planning to carry out a drive-by.
  • Victim of a drive-by: A common phrase identifying the person killed or injured.
    • She was an innocent victim of a drive-by.
Notes
  • "Drive-by killing" is a specific type of homicide. The core action is the "killing"; the method "drive-by" modifies it.
  • This term is almost exclusively used in the context of criminal violence and carries serious, grave connotations.
Noun
  1. homicide committed by shooting from a moving automobile