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Cases of death caused by gas or warning firearms
M A Rothschild1, H Maxeiner, V Schneider
1Institute of Forensic Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
Five cases of lethal injuries caused by gas or warning firearms are discussed. In one suicide case a modified weapon (elongated barrel) and steel bullets were used to fire a shot into the head, the bullets lodged in the skull and lethal bleeding resulted. In the other cases conventional gas weapons without evidence of alteration were used for contact shots; injuries were caused by the effect of propelling powder gases. Two of these cases were suicides (temporal contact shot and back of the neck contact shot), one was an accident (inguinal contact shot with lethal bleeding), and one was an attack by another person with a contact shot against the neck with bilateral tears of the hypopharynx. After successful surgery, a delayed death occurred 12 days later caused by bleeding into the airways from the ruptured external carotid artery.
Insights
Gas and warning firearms can cause lethal injuries, even without bullets. These cases highlight the dangers of propelling powder gases and modified weapons in suicides, accidents, and assaults.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Ballistics
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Gas and warning firearms, often perceived as less lethal, can cause severe or fatal injuries.
- Understanding the mechanisms of injury from these weapons is crucial for forensic analysis and medical intervention.
Observation:
- Case 1: Suicide using a modified firearm with an elongated barrel and steel bullets resulted in lethal cranial bleeding.
- Cases 2-5: Conventional gas weapons used for contact shots caused injuries primarily from propelling powder gases.
- Specific scenarios included suicides (temporal, neck), an accidental inguinal contact shot with bleeding, and an assault with a neck contact shot leading to hypopharyngeal tears.
Findings:
- Propelling powder gases from contact shots can cause significant tissue damage, including fatal bleeding.
- A delayed death occurred 12 days post-surgery due to carotid artery rupture and airway bleeding.
- Modified firearms with projectiles significantly increase lethality.
Implications:
- These findings underscore the potential lethality of gas and warning firearms, necessitating careful consideration in legal and medical contexts.
- Forensic investigators and medical professionals must be aware of the diverse injury patterns associated with these weapons.
- The study emphasizes the importance of proper weapon handling and safety protocols to prevent accidental or intentional harm.