You said, “The “gone awry” phrase bothers me. “
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I am a bit of a language maven and I wanted more detail on why you didn’t like it. Maybe you thought the dictionary definition does not fit. Or perhaps you thought the emotional connotation does not fit. Just curious, any answer will be interesting.
I will jump in with my spin on objecting to "gone awry."
The words "gone awry" seem to imply that success was anticipated by the robbers.
The robber(s) may have anticipated success, but the bad act just started a chain reaction of which one link is the dead victim and the next link is affront to law-abiding citizens that the shooter is on the loose. The final links on this chain will be the capture, trial, and punishment of the shooter.
Vigilantes and bounty hunters had their rightful place in days past.