A Fatal Air Rifle Pellet Wound of the Brain

James, W. Robert

doi:10.1177/002580246200200210

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The most recent data from 2000 showed 21,840 injuries from air weapons in the U.S. Unfortunately, children prove most vulnerable to injury and death from air rifles, especially when unsupervised 24,25. In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported air weapon injuries over a two-year time span.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Homicide Using an Air Weapon

Mogni

Maines

2019

Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

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The debate over the lethality and ownership of modern, high-powered weapons has recently grabbed the headlines. High-velocity air weapons, advertised as starter guns for children, can cause lethal injuries despite non-lethal appearing wounds. Presented is a rare case of a modern, high-powered air weapon used in a homicide. A literature search yielded reports of only three previous murders by air weapon in the United States and only one involving injury to the thorax. In the current case, the killer used a diabolo pellet to penetrate the chest. The pathway tracked through the sternum, piercing the anterior pericardial sac and perforating the right ventricle, which led to a pericardial effusion. The pellet embolized to the left pulmonary artery and eventually the vasculature of the left lung. Cause of death was a penetrating gunshot wound of the chest most likely leading to cardiac tamponade. This case exemplifies several important characteristics of penetrating chest trauma from air guns: first, air rifles, with exit velocities up to 1200 feet per second, can kill and have been used in accidental deaths, homicides and suicides; secondly, diabolo pellets may embolize just as bullets can; and lastly, minor external damage may mask major internal destruction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several authors warn that children with these penetrating head injuries appear fine and maintain consciousness but may rapidly deteriorate. 25,32 However, injuries to the abdomen and thorax may result in fatality as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homicide Using an Air Weapon

Mogni

Maines

2019

Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

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“…Injuries to the skull, face, and neck caused by pneumatic weapon projectiles are most commonly reported, and some of these cases have fatal outcomes (Holland et al 2004;Bratton et al 1997). Much has been published on the fact that the head is the most common part of the body penetrated (Bowen and Magauran 1973;James 1962;Shaw and Galbraith 1977). Nonfatal injuries include brain damage and permanent impairment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol and fatal penetration of the cranium by an airgun pellet—a case study from Poland

Głowiński

Majdanik

Potocka-Banaś

2023

Egypt J Forensic Sci

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Background Airguns with the energy of ejected pellets below 17 J are not considered weapons in Poland, can be purchased without permission, and do not require registration. The mere possession of this kind of airgun does not entail any legal consequences, unless it is used for an unauthorized purpose. Sports and recreational shooting do not have to take place within shooting ranges. However, the improper use of this type of weapon can lead to serious injuries and death. In addition, the impact of high blood alcohol content on pain perception can lead to a lack of awareness of the gunshot. Case presentation A 36-year-old woman died a few hours after a head injury inflicted by a 5.50-mm caliber pellet fired from an air gun. The first pellet penetrated perpendicularly through the left temporal bone to the brain. The gunshot tract of this head wound was 6 cm long and ran horizontally and perpendicularly to the surface of the squamous part of the temporal bone. The tract ran through the skin of the skull, the left temporal muscle, and the squamous part of the temporal bone (where the bone was only 1.5 mm thick). The pellet then penetrated the cerebral dura mater, cerebral pia mater on the borderline of the left temporal and frontal lobes, and left lateral wall of the sphenoidal sinus. The victim did not complain of pain due to a high level of alcohol intoxication (0.35 blood alcohol content). The pellet from the second shot (on the foot) penetrated the right foot and was inflicted by the victim. Conclusion The victim died not earlier than 3 h after being shot as a result of intracranial injuries that caused hemorrhage. The outcomes of this study indicated that high alcohol content resulted in reduced awareness of the victim and no apparent symptoms of developing intracranial injuries.

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“…The head was the most common part of the body penetrated [13,14,15] and the site of entrance may be the eye [16,17,18], the temple [19], or the forehead, with consecutive penetration of the brain [20]. Numerous cases led to permanent impairment or even death, while the minority showed a complete recovery with or without surgical removal of the foreign body [21,22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%