"gunfight" and "exchange of gunfire"

[Ben Zimmer]

Confirmation that the gunfire was one-way:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/officials-boston-suspect-had-no-firearm-when-barrage-of-bullets-hit-hiding-place/2013/04/24/376fc8a0-ad18-11e2-a8b9-2a63d75b5459_story.html


On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 8:39 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>
> At 4/23/2013 08:25 PM, Victor Steinbok wrote:
> >Great! A circular firing squad! Amazing no one else got shot...
>
> I didn't claim this was verified, however.  And we must remember,
> this was a successful outcome -- he was captured alive, and today was
> sufficiently aware to be arraigned before a Federal judge/magistrate
> and be given (three?) defending attorneys.
>
> But I had been wondering -- if true, what term do we give to the
> event?  Victor has now termed the participants.
>
> >
> >On 4/23/2013 7:34 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
> >>Breaking news --  CBS network news (former Fed Miller, I think) said
> >>that it was said to him -- that no gun was found in the boat; that
> >>one encircler saw a movement that looked like a hand holding an
> >>object, and fired; that other encirclers riding up thought that the
> >>suspect was firing, and fired themselves; and that the arriving
> >>person in charge said to cease firing and let's see what we have.

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