"drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic research editor

[Baker, John]

Scot's example is, of course, wonderful, but it may be something of an outlier.  The earliest I see is from the Boston Herald, 9/26/1980 (via Westlaw):
 
<<Two men were arrested in Everett early yesterday after a mysterious drive - by shooting left nine slugs in the city's school administration building at Vine and Chelsea Streets.>>
 
The next earliest is from a 7/9/1981 California legal opinion, discussing a drive-by shooting that occurred on 4/17/1980.  Dixon was a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff assigned to Gang Detail.
 
<<According to Dixon, this "drive-by shooting" is typical of gang-related violence in the East Los Angeles area.
 
. . . .
 
Dixon . . . also knew that gang warfare had heated up since the slaying of Orozco's brother and that the Lote and Mariana gangs in particular were at war and had been involved in a series of drive-by shootings.>>
 
People v. Superior Court, 121 Cal. App. 3d 395, 175 Cal. Rptr. 322 (Cal. App. 1981).
 
Attestations after that gradually pick up.  There are a great many before 1996.
 
 
John Baker
 
 

________________________________

From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Scot LaFaive
Sent: Tue 4/1/2008 11:10 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic research editor



"New Richmond Democrat," New Richmond, WI; July 7, 1876.

"Last night was reported an incident of gunfire on Gorman Avenue. It
appears local farmer Ezekiel McNally fell to the influences of alcohol
and made a fool of himself, driving his horse and carriage down Gorman
Avenue and firing his rifle at shop windows. Mr. McNally caused much
damage in this drive-by shooting, which he will be made responsible to
pay."

A rare find indeed, especially today.

Scot



On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 9:43 PM, Cohen, Gerald Leonard <gcohen at mst.edu> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at MST.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: "drive-by shooting"--- query from National Geographic
>              research editor
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Robin Reid,
>    I'm forwarding your message to the American Dialect Society's Internet discussion group, whose interests extend to all aspects of English.  At least several members are particularly knowledgeable about early attestations of terms and may be able to help you.
>
>   So, ads-l members, would any of you have information on the earliest attestation(s) of "drive-by shooting"?  If so, please respond both to Robin Reid and ads-l. Thanx in advance.
>
> Best. --- Gerald Cohen
> gcohen at mst.edu
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Robin Reid [mailto:rstreid at comcast.net]
> Sent: Tue 4/1/2008 5:32 PM
> To: Cohen, Gerald Leonard
> Subject: query from National Geographic research editor
>
>
>
> Hello Gerald,
>
> My name is Robin Reid, and I'm a research editor for National
> Geographic magazine. I found you while searching for the origins of
> the phrase "drive-by shooting." I'm preparing a timeline to illustrate
> a story we're doing about the impact automobiles have had on society,
> and my art director wondered if we could pinpoint when the phrase
> entered the American lexicon.
>
> WordOrigins indicates it came about in 1996 along with other drive-
> bys, but it then referred me to the society's Web site, and drive-by
> shooting doesn't show up in 1996.
>
> Can you help me?
>
> Many thanks!
>
> Robin Reid
> 410-435-1284
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org <http://www.americandialect.org/> 
>

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