Definition of the day. Ambush.

[Savannahmann]

3. Quick question.

I was unable to find any reference to the suspect hiding in the bushes and shooting the officers as they pulled up.

http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/union-city-fairburn/2015/03/04/fulton-county-officer-killed-in-early-wednesday-shooting/24359847/

Stiles described the situation as an ambush in the dark and foggy weather conditions, saying the officers "were trying to do their job, they were trying to protect this neighborhood from someone who was shooting. And they had no other option but to do their job. And the way it appears to me, they were ambushed without warning."

That site has the conditions of the "ambush" as the dark and foggy conditions. Conditions which would seem to me affect the shooter equally wouldn't it?

I mentioned that I felt sorry for the Officer and his family. I referred to the situation as tragic. I'm not sure how that is minimizing the situation. I even said I don't want to see anyone, police or civilian lose their lives. However, the use of the language is not correct. It is misusing the word ambush to create an emotional response of disgust towards the accused, and sympathy towards the police. Certainly the family of the fallen has my sympathy, I mentioned that as I said. However, the word does not describe the situation on the links I've been able to find. Perhaps I am in error, and you have a link to a site that describes the behavior of the suspect as hiding in the bushes.

However, the fact remains that the police were notified that the man appeared intoxicated, and was firing a long barreled weapon by citizens calling to report the incident. I personally suspect that the individual is suffering from some mental condition, but that is a suspicion, not factual information, and I offered it as a supposition by wording it correctly to identify it as a theory.

If you have more information, am I correct? Is the suspect mentally disturbed? Or was he under the influence of drugs/alcohol? Because running around a neighborhood shooting a long barreled weapon into the air and pounding on doors is not the normal type of behavior one expects to find in a neighborhood. Well, perhaps in Tikrit, but not normally in or around Atlanta.

I was not trying to minimize, but I was taking the opportunity to take issue with the misuse of the language. If you find that intolerable, I feel for you. Because this world must set you on edge everyday.