title: Suicide with two shots to the head inflicted by a captive-bolt gun.
abstract: An exceptional case of suicide with two shots to the head inflicted by a captive-bolt gun is reported here. The pathophysiology observed, and related literature, indicate that the capacity of the victim to fire a second shot depended on the depth of skull penetration by the first shot and the extent of damage to nerve structures. In this case, an ante mortem multi-detector computed tomography was possible. From discussion with the radiologist and a 3D reconstruction, the two-shot suicide scenario could be confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of legal Medicine, University of Lyon, University Claude-Bernard Lyon, Rockefeller Avenue 12, 69008 Lyon, France. laurent.fanton@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fanton
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karger
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide