ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 10

Atypical Gunshot Wounds of Entrance: An Empirical Study
Donoghue, ER
Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, IL

Richmond, JM
Deputy medical examiners, Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, IL

Kalelkar, MB
Deputy medical examiners, Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, IL

Teas, SS
Deputy medical examiners, Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, IL

(Received 30 April 1983; accepted 5 August 1983)

Abstract

Atypical gunshot wounds of entrance occur when bullets deviate from their stable nose-on trajectory before entering the body. When this occurs, the resulting wound may have an atypical D-shaped appearance. Ray-like abrasions or bruises may radiate from the corners of the wound. Unstable nonaxial flight may be caused by intermediate targets, ricochets, inappropriate weapon/ammunition combinations, poor weapon construction, or use of misaligned silencers. If a bullet is deformed before entrance the configuration of the resulting wound may be bizarre, and the wound configuration may closely resemble the configuration of the striking bullet. Nine cases are presented showing the effects of various intermediate targets. A number of methods for the investigation of atypical wounds are discussed.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, wound ballistics, ballistics, gunshot wounds, atypical gunshot wounds, intermediate target, ricochet, criminalistics

Paper ID: JFS11683J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11683J
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