I was always under the impression that the reason for the use of “shooter” and “gunman” wasn’t to down play the roll of the killer- it was to emphasize the gun’s useage in such a crime.
Calling them a killer places the blame on the person. Calling them a shooter envokes thoughts of guns.
Food for thought.
Correct observation — the media calls criminals “shooters”, so that all shooters (including victims defending themselves) become similarly perceived.
He's right about that, something that hadn't occured to me.