Open revolver cylinder at the suicide death scene.
Revolvers with an open cylinder were found at three death scenes of apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds. All three handguns were Smith & Wesson.38 or.357 revolvers. Investigation revealed that firing the gun with the thumb on the cylinder release latch could disengage the cylinder. A combination of gravity and recoil impact against the thumb would open the cylinder and even allow the casing and the unspent cartridges to fall from the gun, creating a confusing death scene.
Wetli
Charles V
CV
Department of Health Services, Suffolk County, New York, New York, USA. charles.wetli@co.suffolk.ny.us
Krivosta
George
G
Sturiano
Jack V
JV
D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D005389:Firearms; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006112:Gravitation; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D013405:Suicide; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology