Examination of Ricochet Gunshot Wounds From Commonly Encountered Surfaces

Abstract

Proper interpretation of gunshot wounds is vital for the forensic pathologist and requires experience and expertise, as well as consultation with a firearms and ballistics expert and careful scene investigation in cases of atypical gunshot wounds. This study is the first large-series examining ricochet gunshot wounds involving different firearm calibers. Typical gunshot wounds created from 4 handgun calibers (22 Long Rifle, 9 × 19 mm Parabellum, .40 Smith &Wesson, and .45 Automatic Colt Pistol) and 2 rifle calibers (5.56 and 7.62 mm) were compared with wounds caused by bullets of those same calibers ricocheting off commonly encountered surfaces (concrete, asphalt, aluminum traffic signs, clay brick, and dry wall). Porcine skin, a human skin analog, attached to sheets of cardboard serviced as witness panels for capturing the entrance wounds. Examination of over 150 handgun and rifle entrance wounds established that every caliber and every ricochet surface resulted in atypical features, including irregularity in size or shape, lack of marginal abrasion, or other injuries on the surrounding skin. The most significant factor influencing the variability of the ricochet wounds was the surface the bullet deflected off before striking the body.

The possibilities for the expert diagnostics of the influence of the glance of a bullet on the character of the injuries inflicted by shooting a hunting weapon

“…Входные повреждения от рикошетированной пули на небиологических объектах (бязь) имеют разрывы в краях [34]. Входные раны на коже множественные, фактически осколочные [34,35], представлены основными и дополнительными повреждениями [36,37]. Форма входных ран неправильная [25,29], неправильно круглая [18,26], неправильно овальная [35], удлиненная и буквообразная [36], атипичная [37], круглая [32,38].…”

“…Форма входных ран неправильная [25,29], неправильно круглая [18,26], неправильно овальная [35], удлиненная и буквообразная [36], атипичная [37], круглая [32,38]. Края ее неровные [34], осаднены [26,35,37]. Размеры входных ран атипичные [37].…”

“…Края ее неровные [34], осаднены [26,35,37]. Размеры входных ран атипичные [37]. Иногда входные раны больших размеров с размозжением [26,34].…”

“…L. Hlavaty и соавт. [37] считают наиболее значительным фактором влияния на вариабельность ран -отклонение пули после рикошета. А.О.…”

Evidence of D-shaped wounds in the intrasomatic bullet path: two case reports

“…The GSWs produced by the modifications in the bullet's behavior greatly differ from those occurring when the initial trajectory and stability remain unaltered [3,6,8,9]. An infrequently observed morphology of the entrance wound has been described in the literature as D-shaped when the surface of impact with the cutaneous tissue is represented by the lateral projection of the bullet [2,7,8,10,11].…”