Citation

Naik SK, Kumar P, Hansda MK, Yadav P. J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2014; 31(1): 18-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Department of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

When a contact or near contact shot is fired from a rifled firearm, apart from the muzzle imprint other constructional parts like front sight and/or the recoil spring guide of semiautomatic pistols may surround the bullet entry wound. But when a rifle fitted with a flash suppressor is fired, the emerging soot-laden gas in the barrel escapes from the slits of the flash suppressor. If the shot is contact or near contact, the flash suppressor will produce a characteristic "flower-like" pattern of blackened zones around the entrance, or rarely may produce deep burns mimicking "grouping of gun-shot entry wounds". We present a case where due to deep dermal burns resulting from escaping hot soot-laden gases through the slits/ openings of a flash suppressor of an infantry rifle in a contact shot mimicked multiple entry wounds. © 2014, Medicolegal Society. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; suicide; burn; male; autopsy; case report; head injury; Firearm injury; Contact shot; gunshot injury; clinical article; human tissue; brain injury; histopathology; skull fracture; Article; observational study; comminuted fracture; Flash suppressor; Infantry rifle; dermo epidermal burn; Entry wound; fenestration; Grouping of shots