The ability to act--multiple suicidal gunshot wounds

Abstract

Multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds are rare and usually present a challenge to the forensic pathologist in determining the manner of death. Determining a person's capability to act following a gunshot wound can be of major importance in crime scene reconstruction and in differentiation between homicide and suicide. Questions concerning the possibility of physical activity following a given gunshot wound are repeatedly raised in court. We report herein three unusual cases of suicide involving multiple gunshot wounds; all the victims suffered gunshot wounds of the head without immediate incapacitation. In the first two cases, the head was target for two gunshots. Third case was a combination of two gunshots to the head and chest. In the text, we focus on the victim's ability to act after the first shot, with regards to the character and localization of the gunshot wound. Also, we focus on findings that are typical for a repeated suicidal shot.