Department of Material Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
J Forensic Sci. 2024 Jul;69(4):1495-1500. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15555. Epub 2024 Jun 9.
Multiple gunshot suicides are relatively rare and present significant challenges for investigators and forensic pathologists. In such cases, assessing the possibility of more than one shot being fired can be crucial in distinguishing homicide from suicide. We present a rare case of multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the chest with severe injury to the heart and left lung. Both the sudden, unexpected death of the man, the unknown source of the firearm, and the number and nature of the injuries sustained seemed quite unusual. The investigation revealed that the wounds were self-inflicted at close range, and the interval between successive shots (estimated by witnesses at up to 2 min) suggests that even multiple gunshot wounds perforating the heart and lungs may not necessarily cause immediate incapacitation. Forensic investigations in such cases should be multi-faceted and include full autopsy and ballistics expertise, as well as witness testimony and medical history.
多枪自杀较为罕见，给调查人员和法医病理学家带来了重大挑战。在这种情况下，评估是否有不止一枪被射出对于区分他杀和自杀至关重要。我们报告了一个罕见的多枪自伤胸部导致心脏和左肺严重损伤的案例。该男子的突然、意外死亡、枪支的未知来源以及所受伤害的数量和性质似乎都非常不寻常。调查显示，伤口是近距离自伤的，连续射击之间的间隔（据目击者估计长达 2 分钟）表明，即使是穿透心脏和肺部的多发枪伤也不一定会立即使人丧失能力。在这种情况下，法医调查应该是多方面的，包括全面的尸检和弹道学专业知识，以及证人证言和病史。
