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Multiple suicidal gunshots to the head
1Institute of Legal Medicine, Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf, F.R.G.
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Two cases of suicide by multiple gunshots to the head are presented. Low-energy bullets can cause delayed death due to initial non-fatal head injuries.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Suicide by firearm is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the ballistics and injury patterns is crucial for forensic investigation.
Observation:
- Case 1: A male victim sustained two gunshot wounds to the head, with the initial shot to the mouth causing optic nerve and frontal lobe damage, allowing him to drive home before a second fatal shot.
- Case 2: A 58-year-old male victim sustained three gunshot wounds, with initial shots causing minor damage to the tongue and cervical spine before fatal shots to the temples resulted in temporal lobe and pons destruction.
Findings:
- Both cases involved low-energy firearms (modified blank revolver and reduced-charge rifle).
- Initial shots in both cases resulted in non-fatal brain injuries due to low bullet energy or trajectories missing vital centers.
- Delayed mortality occurred in Case 1 due to the non-fatal initial injury.
Implications:
- Low-energy projectiles can cause severe, yet initially non-fatal, head injuries, complicating cause-of-death determination.
- The specific ballistics and trajectory analysis are critical in reconstructing fatal firearm incidents.
- These cases highlight the variability in outcomes following firearm head trauma.