FORENSIC PATHOLOGY GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS GSW are penetrating or perforating Penetrating = bullet enters an object but does not exit Perforating = bullet passes through and exits object

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Many things follow the bullet upon leaving the barrel Partially burned powder Particles of bullet metal Soot Bullet lubricant Inorganic elements from primer

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Gunpowder exits the muzzle in two forms Completely burned powder is called soot or fowling Burning and unburned particles are referred to as stippling or powdered tattooing Particles will travel farther than the soot and will abrade the skin

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Soot Carbon powder which contains vaporized metals from primer, bullet and cartridge case As range from muzzle to target increases, size of zone of powder soot blackening will increase Density of blackened soot decreases

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Placement of soot can vary due to Range Propellant Angle of muzzle to target Barrel length Caliber of weapon Type of weapon Target material and state of target (blood or not)

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Soot Barrel length Orientation of muzzle Longer barrel produces smaller and more dense soot patterns Handguns deposit soot out to 30 cm Orientation of muzzle Muzzle at 90 degree angle = circular shape with hole in center Muzzle at 2cm + angle = blossom shape with eccentric hole

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Gunshot Wound Residue is deposited in zones Zone I = Contact GSW Muzzle of weapon held against body surface Wound may be classified as hard, loose, angled or incomplete Edges may be seared by gases and blackened by soot and propellant With or without seared blackened zone around wound

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone I - Hard Contact Wounds Muzzle of weapon is jammed “hard” against skin Outside line of certain parts of the firearm may be imprinted in the skin Barrel, front sights Skin is indented by weapon Edges of wound are seared by hot gases of combusted and blackened soot Soot may be embedded in seared skin Cannot wash soot out of wound

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone II – Loose approx. 0- 4 inches away from body Intense, dark sooting with dense deposits of unburned and partially burned powder around bullet hole Destruction of clothing and skin possible

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone II = Loose Contact Muzzle in contact with skin, but held lightly against surface Gas from weapon forms gap between gun and wound Soot is deposited around entrance wound Soot can be wiped away

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone II = Angled Contact Wound Muzzle is held at an angle to the skin Gas and soot radiate outward from muzzle Soot is found in two different zones Most noticeable zone – Blackened seared area of skin or cloth, having a pear, circular or oval shape Second zone – large fan-shaped zone of light gray soot radiating from gap Soot can be washed away

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone II – Angled Contact Wounds Eccentric seared blackened zone of skin on opposite side of wound from muzzle pointing the way the gun was directed Wound widest on side opposite muzzle Larger eccentric zone of soot deposition

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone II – Angled Contact Wounds If the angle between the barrel and skin decreases, the gap between muzzle and skin is larger More material can escape through the gap Unburned grains of powder may sear skin Angled contact wounds can have powder tattooing on opposite side of wound from muzzle

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone II – Incomplete Contact Wounds Muzzle of weapon is held against the skin, there is a gap between muzzle and skin Soot escapes through gap Seared or blackened skin located adjacent to wound Most often seen in suicides

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone III – Near Approximately 4 – 6 inches from body Medium to light gray sooting Circular pattern of powder distribution around bullet hole Tattooing possible

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone IV – Intermediate Range Wounds Approximately 6 – 24 inches from body No visible sooting Dispersed powder particles As soon as one sees individual tattooing marks, one is dealing with intermediate range wounds Near wounds may be seared zone, but no individual tattoo marks

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone IV – Intermediate Tattooing Reddish-brown to orange-red punctate lesions around wound entrance Skin on same side of barrel (at angle) will have dense tattooing Powder tattooing occurs antemortem Postmortem tattooing marks are gray or yellow in color

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone IV – Intermediate Range Wounds Powder tattooing is due to impact of powder grains on skin – Not powder burns Punctate abrasions cannot be wiped away

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Zone V: Distant Range Wounds Approximately 2-3 feet or greater The only marks on the body are those produced by mechanical action of bullet perforating the skin

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Revolvers Gas, soot and powder emerge from muzzle and gap between cylinder and barrel If weapon is parallel to body soot from cylinder-barrel gap produces a L- or V-shaped pattern If weapon is at an acute angel to body, searing will occur a distance from entrance wound Can measure barrel length

GUNSHOT WOUNDS Muzzle Brake Flash Suppressor Redirects gases at muzzle to generate a forward thrust on muzzle and counters force of recoil Flash Suppressor Breaks up the “fireball” Cylinder with longitudinal slits along its length Gases emerges through the slits instead of out muzzle