A Unique Case of Attempted Two Gun Suicide with One Firearm Discharge and Two Muzzle Imprints. Issue 2 (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Poulos, Christopher K.; Thorne, Todd A.
• Is Part Of: Academic forensic pathology. Volume 3:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 253
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Forensic pathology -- Two gun suicide -- Muzzle Imprint -- Contact Wound; Forensic pathology -- Periodicals; Forensic pathology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.23907/2013.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1925-3621

Abstract

Two gun suicides are rare and many authors regard them a special form of "planned complex suicide." As with all multi-gunshot suicides, two gun suicides may initially lead to an increased suspicion of a homicide. In this article, the authors describe the case of an attempted two gun suicide where a 38-year-old male used two .45 caliber weapons to shoot himself, but only one discharged. Both firearms left muzzle imprints, despite only one having been fired. This case not only represents a rare form of suicide, but the muzzle imprint from the non-fired weapon provides an illustration of the mechanism of muzzle imprint formation.