Crossbow homicides

Abstract

A total of eight cases of homicide by crossbow are reported, including six intentional, assault-like killings and one hired killer. The bolts showed a high penetration capacity despite the rather low kinetic energy (<100 J): a field-tip traversed one upper arm and the thorax (36 cm) and two broadheads caused perforating injuries of the thorax (25-26 cm). This was due to the high sectional density and the split-like penetration mechanism. Wound morphology was especially important if the perpetrator had extracted the bolt, which occurred in half of the cases. The shape of the entrance wound depended on the type of arrowhead: broadheads produced star-shaped to triangular wounds, field-tips caused circular, oval or slit-like injuries. Foreign material from the arrowhead was found inside two injuries. In assaults, the crossbow was used to hunt the victim down from a short distance which does not require practice but still has the advantage of a distance weapon. However, immediate incapacitation occurred rarely so that additional violence was frequently applied. The noiseless character of the weapon explains why many victims were taken by surprise and why the corpses initially remained unnoticed. Crossbows can therefore be considered ideal weapons for man hunting and some were bought for the very purpose of the killing.

Homicide by Sch from a syringe-like dart ejected by a compound crossbow

“…8 In this case, the compound crossbow (Fig. 7) could eject poisonous dart with accuracy up to 30 m. A large dose of Sch can paralyze respiratory muscle quickly and kill the receiver in a short span of time without the help of an artificial respirator.…”

An unusual case of homicide with a crossbow and a hunting knife

“…In the literature, there are proposals for revisions which would introduce legal restrictions on the sale of crossbows and enforce special training for users. 15,22 In Italy, in the past, restrictions to the possibility of purchase and ownership were proposed by classifying the crossbow as a proper weapon. Regarding this issue, there is a judgment by the Italian Supreme Court, penal section, no.…”

Fatal Suicidal Crossbow Injury—The Ability to Act

“…By contrast, tangential contact of the arrow tip with the body produces scratches or skin abrasions, perhaps even lacerated wounds or incisions. If the arrow has been found pulled out or has left the body, the diagnosis of the sustained injury becomes very difficult or even impossible (25). …”

“…KEYWORDS: forensic science, crossbow, suicide, wound pattern, penetrating aortic injury, ability to act Arrow injuries were quite common in the past. Nowadays suicidal (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), accidental (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) as well as homicidal (3,5,11,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) crossbow injuries represent extremely rare fatal events worldwide, despite the availability of crossbows in many countries. In this paper, we present an unusual case of a suicide where the victim sustained arrow-caused trauma to the trunk after having shot himself with a crossbow.…”