Using "gunman" to describe a fifteen year old [closed]

Solution 1:

I'm guessing that the question turns on the occurrence of "man" in "gunman".

And yes, it is perhaps unfortunate, for considerations of gender and age, but "gunman" is commonly used, including for teenage boys.

Whether it would be used for a woman, teenage girl, or younger child is questionable. It probably could be, by some people, but I doubt that it typically would be.

Solution 2:

American Heritage Dictionary defines "gunman" as follows;

1. A man armed with a gun, especially an armed criminal or a professional killer.
2. A man skilled in the use of a gun.

It is debatable how you define "skillfulness" of a 15-year-old boy in terms of handling a firearm, but I would not use a "gunman" to describe him. I would rather use "armed teenager".

Armed means in Merriam-Webster;

furnished with weapons ; also: using or involving a weapon