I used to shoot crossbows before the pain.in.the.ass factor of having something nearly 2.5 feet wide and just as long that takes a bit of time and effort to use got to me.
Which makes me wonder ... dude walking around the streets with a crossbow - hardly an easily concealable weapon like a firearm. Dude (presumably) cocks and loads the bow INSIDE a public building , points it at some one from behind. Unless it was one of those puny midget bows that would take a fairly lucky shot at close range to really kill someone in the modern medicine days. Still. Raises the question.
Are there no men in that city ?