"Stray Bullet:" is there a better term?

[Odd Job]

Ladies and gents, this one concerns the use of appropriate terminology and has arisen from the comments of an individual who reviewed my manuscript. I am going through the comments and making the appropriate corrections/changes.

One of the changes I intend to make involves terminology relating to the "stray bullet." I have been advised that it is an undesirable term and upon reflection I agree that I must find different wording for that. This is the context in which I originally used the term:

The nature of most gunshot incidents suggests criminal intent or malevolence of some kind. Even if the patient or a relative suggests that the gunshot injury was accidental, I advise that you treat the shooting as non-accidental and observe the following precautions:

1) The patient remains a target even though he is in the hospital. He retains evidence in the form of physical evidence (such as projectile fragments) and he may have information about the shooting and possibly the shooter too. Even if the patient genuinely knows nothing of the incident and even if he was hit by a stray bullet, the shooter may make it his business to finish the patient off. I was involved in one such incident in Johannesburg in 1998. Another incident took place in March 2002 at a Johannesburg hospital in which a patient was tracked down and murdered on the ward while recuperating from a gunshot injury.

Any suggestions? I thought of 'errant bullet' but there must surely be a better term.

 

[GRIZ22]

Stray bullet is a commonly used term. Although it's not truly descriptive, people know what it means. Changing a term in common usage is difficult and in most cases not practical.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Stay bullet is used.
From the context of what you are writing, you may change it to "unintended victim," perhaps.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Errant bullet

 

[zoom6zoom]

Misdirected round.

 

[romma]

Speaking of stray bullets: Ledyard — A local official has met with residents of Wolf Ridge Gap to discuss efforts aimed at safeguarding residents from the possibility of stray bullets from a nearby gun club.

The meeting this week was an outgrowth of an incident last May involving the gun club that raised fears among some residents' that someone could get struck by a stray bullet.

On May 31, bullets allegedly fired from the Ledyard Sportsmen's Club struck dentist Thomas Lewis' office at 10 Fairway Drive. No one was injured, but Lewis sued the club last July.

The lawsuit is pending and awaits a June 15 pretrial court hearing.

Meanwhile, a state Department of Public Safety ballistic report, completed earlier this year, could not conclusively determine that the bullets originated from the gun club, the town's resident state trooper, Sgt. John Rich, said.

Police closed their investigation on the case several weeks ago, Rich said.

But due to residents' alarm at the incident, state Rep. Tom Reynolds, D-Ledyard, is working with the town and its residents to ensure that everyone feels safe. Reynolds' efforts are separate from the legal action.

Reynolds said he met with Mayor Susan Mendenhall, residents of Wolf Ridge Gap and a sportsmen's club representative on Monday to discuss concerns about the club.

Residents on Wolf Ridge Gap have reported bullet holes on several homes in the area.

“It was an opportunity for both sides to educate each other,” said Reynolds.

The club representative, he added, spoke of the safety procedures the club has in place to prevent incidents of misfired shots.

“Residents had some specific requests that they wanted the club to consider with regard to voluntary measures that (the club) would take to reduce the likelihood of future incidents,” said Reynolds.

Reynolds suggested that the Wolf Ridge Gap residents put their requests in writing for the club to consider. He plans to hold a second meeting next month.

Reynolds emphasized that no one knows for sure where the stray bullets are coming from.

“There have also been reports of hunters and other people in the woods outside the gun club,” he said. “So I want to make sure there's no automatic assumption that these bullets are coming from the gun club.”

Reynolds also plans to set up a meeting with a representative from the state Department of Environmental Protection to discuss hunting regulations and ensure proper enforcement.

 

[griz]

How about:

Even if the patient genuinely knows nothing of the incident and even if he was not the intended victim.

If you must replace "stray", I too would vote for errant.

 

[tanksoldier]

How about "Miss"

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

I like "negligent miss".

 

[LunchMoney]

how about something like "unintended trajectory"

 

[Odd Job]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I am leaning towards the unintended victim at the moment.

 

[win71]

Trajectory challenged

 

[PaulTX]

An unpurposed projectile

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I like "negligent miss".

Yes but then we have to determine if it was a negligent miss or an accidental miss. Was the miss preventable with proper gun handling?
I think I like errant best. Stray isn't a great description but people do know what it means. Just make sure the sentence brings up the intended imagery to readers so people don't have to think too hard to figure out what a _______ bullet is.
You might be able to use something like "unintentional victim" with a little rewording.

 

[HammerBite]

I am leaning towards the unintended victim at the moment

Don't use it. "Unintended victim" carries the implication that there was an intended victim, which may not be the case.

If you accept the definitions of "stray"

intr. v. To deviate from a moral, proper, or right course

and

adj. Straying or having strayed

then any bullet that hits someone unintentionally is a stray bullet, and common usage has come to reflect that.

I believe that the term "errant", while similar, does not come as close to your intent as "stray."