Gunshot Wounds

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Death or physical injuries brought about by powdered propelled substances may be due
to the following:

1. Firearm Shot – injury caused by missile propelled by the

explosion of the gunpowder located in the
cartridge shell and at the rear of the missile.

2. Detonation of high explosives as in grenades, bombs and mine explosion.

Firearm Wound

An instrument used for the propulsion of a projectile by the expansive force of

gases coming from the burning of gunpowder.
Includes rifles, muskets, shotguns, revolvers, pistols, and all other deadly weapons
from which a bullet, ball, shot, shell, or other missile may be discharges by means of
gunpowder or other explosives.
The barrel of any firearm shall be considered as complete firearm foe all purposes
thereof.
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 Gunshot Wounds
Penal Provisions of Law Relative to Firearm

• Alarms and Scandals ( Art. 155, RPC)

• Discharge of Firearms ( Art 254, RPC)

Small Firearms
Those which will propel projectile of less than one inch in diameter.

Types of Small Firearms of Medico- Legal Interest

• Revolver
• Automatic Rifle
• Rifle
• Shotgun

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 Gunshot Wounds
Two principal component parts of a weapon in order to cause an injury
are:

• Cartridge or Ammunition
• The Firearm

Principal Parts of the Cartridge

• The Cartridge case or shell

• Primer
• Powder or propellant
• Bullet or projectile

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Important parts of a Firearm

• The trigger with a firing pin

• The Barrel

Things Coming Out of the Gun Muzzle After the Fire

• Bullet
• Flame
• Heated, compressed and expanded gas
• Residues coming from
Bullet
Powder Particles
Primer
Barrel
Cartridge case

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 Gunshot Wounds

Destructive Mechanism of Gunshot

1. Laceration and Permanent Cavity in the Bullet Trajectory

2. Temporary Cavity
3. Hydrostatic Force
4. Shock Wave
5. Fragmentation or Disintegration of the Bullet
6. Fragmentation of Hard Brittle Object in the Trajectory
7. Muzzle Blast in Contact Fire
8. Other Consequential Effects on the Body of the Victim

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds

Gunshot Wound of Entrance

The appearance of the gunshot wound of entrance depends upon the
following:

1. Caliber of the Wounding Weapon

2. Characteristic Inherent to the Wound of Entrance
3. Direction of the Fire
4. Shape and Composition of the Missile
5. Range
6. Kind of Weapon

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds

Contact Fire:

The nature and extent of the injury is caused not only by the force of the bullet but
also by the gas of the muzzle blast and part of the body involved. The following factors
must be taken into consideration:

1. The effectiveness of the Sealing Between the Gun Muzzle and the Skin
2. The Amount if the Gas Liberated by the Combustion of the Propellant
3. Nature of Bullet
4. Part of the Body Involved

Pressed and Firm Contact Fire:

5. On Parts of the Body Where Bone is Superficial
6. Parts of the Body where the Bone is Deeply Located

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 Gunshot Wounds
Loose Contact or Near Fire:

1. Entrance wound may be large circular or oval depending upon the

angle of approach of the bullet.
2. Abrasion collar or ring is distinct
3. Smuggling, burning and tattooing are prominent with singeing od the
hair
4. Muzzle imprint may be seen depending upon the degree of slapping
of the skin of the gun muzzle
5. There is blackening of the bullet tract to a certain depth
6. Carboxyhemoglobin is present in the wound “ and sorrounding areas.

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 Gunshot Wounds
Short Range Fire ( 1to 15 cm distance)
1. Edges of the entrance wound is inverted
2. If within the flame reach there is an area of burning
3. Smudging, burning and tattooing is present
4. Abrasion ring or collar is present.

Medium Range Fire ( more than 15 cm. but less than 60 cm.)
5. Gunshot wound with inverted edges and with abrasion collar is
present.
6. Burning effects is absent.
7. Smudging may be present if less than 30 cm. distance.
8. Gunpowder tattooing is present but of lesser density and has a wider
area of distribution.
9. Contact ring is present.
Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Fired More than 60 cm. Distance
1. Gunshot wound is circular or oval depending on the angle of
approach with abrasion collar.
2. Wound of entrance has no burning, smudging or tattooing.
3. Contract ring is present.

Instances When Size of the Wound of Entrance Do Not approximate the

Caliber of the Firearm

In distant fire, the rule is that the diameter of the gunshot wound of
entrance is almost the same as the caliber of the wounding firearm, but in
the following instances, the following rule is not followed:
4. Factors which make the wound of entrance bigger than the caliber: a.
In contact or near fire

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
b. Deformity of the bullet which entered.
c. Bullet might have entered the skin sidewise
d. Acute angular approach of the bullet

2. Factors which make the wound of entrance smaller than the caliber:
a. Fragmentation of the bullet before penetrating the skin
b. Contraction of the elastic tissues of the skin

In shotgun fire, the size of the wound of the entrance is dependent

upon the distance of the fire. Near fire causes concentration of entry of
the pellets, and as distance increases the pellets disperse with individual
pellets causing individual wounds of entry. Only in this instance may the
wound of entrance of the same size as the gauge of the shotgun pellets.

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Evidences or Findings Used to Determine Entrance of Gunshot:
When the course of the bullet is through and through and there is a
difficulty in the determination as to which is the entrance because it does
not show characteristic findings, or it has been modified by healing,
infection or surgical intervention, the medical examiner must resort to
the following:

1. Examination of the clothing, if involved in the course of the bullet

2. Examination of the internal injuries caused by the bullet
3. Testimony of the Witnesses

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 Gunshot Wounds
Determination of the Trajectory of the Bullet Inside the Body of the
Victim:

1. External Examination
a. Shape of the Wound of Entrance
b. Shape and Distribution of the Contusion or Abrasion Collar
c. Difference in Level Between the entrance and exit wounds
d. By probing the wound entrance
2. Internal Examination
a. Actual dissection
b. Fracture of Bones and course in visceral organs
c. Location of bone fragmentation and lead particles
d. X-ray Examination

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
3. Other Evidences to show Trajectory
a. Relative difference in the vertical location of the entrance from the
exit in the clothing.
b. Relative position and distance of the assailant from the victim in
the reconstruction or reenactment of the crime.
c. Testimony of witnesses.

Exit ( Outshoot ) Wound

An exit wound does not show characteristic shape unlike the wound
of entrance. This is due to the absence of external support beyond the
skin so the bullet tends to tear or shatter in the skin while sufficient
amount of kinetic energy is still in the bullet during the process of
piercing the skin.
Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Distinction between Gunshot Wound of Entrance and Wound of Exit:
Entrance Wound Exit Wound
Appears to be smaller than the missile owing Always bigger than the missile
to the elasticity of the tissue
Edges are inverted Edge are everted
Usually oval or round depending upon the It does not manifest any definite shape
angle of approach of the bullet
“ Contusion collar” or “ Contact ring” is “Contusion collar” is absent
present, due to invagination of the skin and
spinning of the of the missile
Tattooing or smudging may be present when Always absent
firing is near
Underlying tissues are not protruding Underlying tissues may be seen protruding
from the wound
Always present after fire May be absent, if missile is lodged in the
body
Paraffin test may be positive Paraffin test always negative

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
The “ Odd and Even Rule” in Gunshot Wounds:

If the number of gunshot wounds of entrance and exit found in the

body of the victim is even, the presumption is that no bullet is lodged in
the body, but if the number of the gunshot wounds of entrance and exit is
odd, the presumption is that one or more bullets might have been lodged
in the body.

How to determine the number of fires made by the Offender:

1. Determination of the Number of Spent Shells.

2. Determination of Entrance Wounds in the body of the victim.
3. Number of shots heard by witnesses

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Instances when the number of gunshot wounds of entrance is less than
the number of gunshot wounds of exit in the body of the victim:

1. A bullet might have entered the body but split into several fragments,
each of which made a separate exit.
2. One of the bullets might have entered a natural orifice of the body.
3. There might be two or more bullets which entered the body through a
common entrance and later making individual exit wounds.
4. In near shot with a shotgun, the pellets might have entered in a
common wound and later dispersed while inside the body and
making separate wounds of exit.

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Instances when there is no gunshot wound of exit but the bullet is not
found in the body of the victim:

1. When the bullet is lodged in the gastro-intestinal tract and expelled

through the bowel, or lodged in the pharynx and expelled through
the mouth by coughing.
2. Near fire with a blank cartridge produced a wound of entrance but no
slug may be recovered.
3. The bullet may enter the wound of entarance and upon hitting the
bone the course is deflected to have the wound of entrance as the
wound of exit.

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Problems confronting Forensic Physician in the Identification of
Gunshot Wounds:

1. Alteration of the Lesion Due to Natural Process

2. Medical and Surgical Intervention
3. Embalming
4. Problem Inherent to the Injury Itself
5. X-ray Examination

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Evidences that tend to show that the Gunshot(s) Wound is suicidal:

1. The shot was fired in a closed or locked room, usually in the office or
bedroom.
2. The death weapon is almost always found near the place where the
victim was found.
3. The shot was fired with the muzzle of the gun in contact with the
part of the body involved or at close range.
4. The location of the gunshot wound of entrance is in an accessible
part of the body to the wounding hand.
5. The shot is usually solitary.
6. The direction of the fire is compatible with the usual trajectory of th
bullet considering the hand used and the part of the body involved.
7. Personal history may reveal social, economic, business or marital
problem which the victim cannot solve.
Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Evidences that tend to show that the Gunshot(s) Wound is suicidal:

8. Examination of the hand of the victim may show presence of

gunpowder.
9. Entrance wound do not usually involve clothing.
10. Fingerprints of victim on the butt.
11. Search of the place where the shot took place may reveal a suicide
note which usually mentions.
12. No disturbance in the place of death.

Evidences that tend to show that the Gunshot(s) Wound is homicidal:

1. The site or sites of wound of entrance has no point of election.

2. The fire is made when the victim is usually at some distance from
assailant.
Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Evidences that tend to show that the Gunshot(s) Wound is homicidal:

3. Signs of struggle may be present in the victim.

4. There may be a disturbance of the surroundings on account of
previous struggle.
5. Wounding firearm usually is not found at the scene of the crime.
6. Testimony of witnesses.

Evidences that tend to show that the Gunshot(s) Wound is accidental:

1. Usually there is but one shot.
2. There is no special area of the body involved.
3. Consideration of the testimony of the assailant and determination as
to whether it is possible to be accidental by knowing the relative
position of the victim and the assailant.
4. Testimony of witnesses.
Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Shotgun Wounds:

A shotgun is a shoulder- fires firearm having

a barrel that is smooth bored and is intended for a
charged compound of one or more round balls or
pellets.

Classes of Shot in a Shotgun Shell:

1. Birdshot
2. Buckshot
3. Single Projectile ( Rifled Slug)

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Shotgun Wounds of Entrance:

1. Contact or Near Contact Shot ( not more than 6”)

2. Long Range Shot ( more then 6” skin muzzle distance)

Determination of the Presence of Gunpowder and Primer Components

Procedure in determining the presence of gunpowder:

3. Gross examination or examination with the use of hand lens.

4. Microscopic examination.
5. Chemical Test.

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Tests for presence of powder residues:

1. On the skin :
Dermal nitrate Test – the back of the fingers and of the hand up to the
region of the wrist is coated with melted paraffin, heated at a temperature
of 150 degree Fahrenheit. Test is no conclusive as to the presence of
gunpowder.

2. On clothing ( especially colored one)

Walker’s test ( C- acid test, H- acid test)- a glossy photographic
paper is fixed thoroughly in hyposolution for 20 mins. to remove all the
silver salts and then washed for 45 mins. and dried.

Legal Medicine
 Gunshot Wounds
Tests for presence of primer components:

1. Harrison and Gilroy Test

2. Neutron Activation Analysis ( NAA)
3. Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy ( FAAS )
4. Use of scanning electron microscope with a linked x-ray analyzer:

Firearm Identification

5. Caliber of the Weapon

6. Fingerprints
7. Fouling of the Barrel
8. Serial Number

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 Gunshot Wounds
Gunshot Wounds in Different Parts of the Body

 Head and Neck:

1. Cranium
2. Brain Substance
3. Face
4. Neck

 Chest:
1. Chest Wall
2. Lungs
3. Heart

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 Gunshot Wounds
Gunshot Wounds in Different Parts of the Body

 Abdomen  Extremities

 Spine and Spinal Cord

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