1. FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
GUNSHOT WOUNDS

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

3. 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

4. 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

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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

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8. 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)

9. 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

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11. 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

12. 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

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16. 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

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18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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22. 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

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25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

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37. 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

38. 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