Suicide by shooting with a tiling hammer

Abstract

Reports of cases involving self-made firearms are rare. This report discusses an unusual case involving a 36-year-old man found dead by the bank of a lake with a suspected gunshot wound. A gas pistol, calibre 9 mm, was found in the lake. A metal pipe with a hammer was also found but not initially identified as the causative weapon. The investigation focussed on the gas pistol until tests revealed that this had never been fired. Attention then turned to the metal tube and hammer. A reconstruction of the weapon revealed that the victim had constructed a unique functional device activated via a hammer used in his occupation as a tiler. It was concluded that the man had committed suicide. This is a highly unusual suicide case due to the discovery of more than one weapon at the scene and the use of a self-made firearm. The findings of this case would be of interest to forensic scientists, pathologists and the police.

Multiple suicidal injuries with shotgun slugs

“…Owing to the slug's caliber, great weight, and higher muzzle velocity, shotgun slugs crush large amounts of tissue and frequently cause huge, deep, gaping, and mutilating wounds, especially to the head [16]. It must be also emphasized that sometimes homemade firearms or firing mechanisms may cause gunshot injury very similar to shotgun slug injury [17].…”

An Unusual Zip Gun Suicide—Medicolegal and Ballistic Examination

“…The result can be an insufficient, unprofessional, incorrect, or misguided evaluation of the wound. In cases where a gunshot wound is suspected, it is best for medical examiners and ballistics specialists to cooperate from the beginning (at the crime scene) (8). …”

“…The literature (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) shows that persons using home-made guns to commit suicide were exclusively men. Women who commit suicide with a firearm typically use guns of serial production.…”

“…Worldwide, cases in which a home‐made firearm is used to perform an intended suicide are very rare. The literature describes only tens of such cases by means of these unusual firearms (1–8). Unfortunate accidents (9,10) and homicides (11,12) are extremely uncommon.…”

Homemade Firearm Suicide With Dumbbell Pipe Triggering by an Air-Compressed Gun

“…15,19 Pen gun cases have been reported, 11,15,17 and cases of suicide with a homemade tube triggered by a hammer have also been reported. 6,16,27 Despite the variability of homemade firearms, these studies indicate several common features. The primary feature is the combination of an iron barrel, a bullet, and a trigger.…”