Unusual homicide by air gun with pellet embolisation

A homicidal case by an air gun involving a 73-year-old woman who was found dead in her home is described. At autopsy, two gunshot wounds were observed on the left anterior chest and the right back. There was neither exit wound nor powder burns. The fatal pellet, 0.9 g and 5.5mm diameter, penetrated the left anterior chest and the heart to cause cardiac tamponade (200 ml) before lodging in the left subclavian artery. Death was due to cardiac tamponade. This case has exhibited two rare phenomena: homicide by an air gun and pellet embolisation. This is the first homicide case by use of air gun in Japan and demonstrates that although it may be rare, air guns can be used as potential homicidal weapons. This experience will alert our society and others on the potential hazards of air guns we have tended to regard as toys.