Crossword Genius

Master criminal aiming a carbine at head (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

magician

'master' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'criminal aiming a carbine at head' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'head' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letters of 'carbine at' is 'ca'.
'aiming'+'ca'='aimingca'
'aimingca' with letters rearranged gives 'MAGICIAN'.

(Other definitions for magician that I've seen before include "Stage conjurer or maker of legerdemain" , "Conjuror or sorcerer" , "Sorcerer, wizard" , "Conjuror, illusionist" , "Conjuror, wizard" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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