title: Gunshot fatalities in children and adolescents in New York City.
abstract: We reviewed the case records of all fatalities due to gunshot wounds in children and adolescents under 19 years of age in New York City from 1996 to 2000. The epidemiological profile, circumstances, toxicology results, location, and injuries were examined. There were 263 deaths: 242 homicides, 17 suicides, and 4 accidents. Among the homicides, 96% involved Black or Hispanic and 68% involved 17 and 18-year-old decedents. There were 11 times as many male as female homicides. The detection of ethanol and/or illicit drugs was 56% in the homicide and 53% in the suicide groups. Suicide notes were found in 18% of suicides, and an additional 35% verbally expressed a plan to commit suicide. Most suicides (77%) were in the home and half of the homicides occurred on the street.
authors.affiliation: New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and Department of Forensic Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: May Jennifer
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Amolat
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs