[Ford Fairlane]

Why is the news today calling these sniper style shootings?

The initial reports led me to believe they were drive bys with a handgun.

Has the type of weapon used been released?

Were all the victims shot with the same weapon?

[William McKinley]

They believe it is a .223 calibre rifle.

[Shermy]

All the first ones shot with .223 ammo.

[Steve0113]

Why is the news today calling these sniper style shootings?

Can you fire a high-power .223 from a handgun?

[jackbill]

Why is the news today calling these sniper style shootings?

Because in all five in Maryland yesterday, and in the one in DC last night (which has yet to be connected to the MD five) the victim was killed by a single shot from a .223 caliber rifle. And none were head-shots.

If you do a drive-by with a handgun, how many people will you kill outright with a single shot from a handgun? With head-shots disallowed and misses disallowed.

[xm177e2]

Why is the news today calling these sniper style shootings?

Because the killer(s) are operating like snipers. They quietly move into position, take aim, hit their target at long range with a suppressed weapon, killing with one shot, and quietly make their escape.

I am not trying to suggest any moral equivalency between these snipers and snipers in the military, just that they use the same tactics.