title: Fatal wounds sustained from "falling bullets": maintaining a high index of suspicion in a forensic setting.
abstract: Celebratory gunfire injuries from "falling bullets" occur when guns are fired into the air during celebrations without realizing that this can cause serious injuries or even fatalities. Fatal celebratory gunfire injury is an uncommonly reported event in the continental United States. Our electronic database was queried for homicides occurring within days of July 4th and December 31st over a 14-year period. We describe two cases of fatal gunfire injury due to celebratory gunfire occurring during New Year's Eve in Southern Florida. The relevant literature is reviewed. These case reports illustrate that fatal gunfire injuries sustained from "falling bullets" may pose as an unexpected mimic to sudden natural deaths especially in patients with prior medical history. A high index of suspicion to recognize such injury is required particularly during holidays.
authors: Department of Pathology HW470, New York University Medical Center, 560 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016.
authors: Amy V
authors: AV
authors: Rapkiewicz
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Shuman
authors: Kenneth D
authors: KD
authors: Hutchins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D001011:Aorta / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D044709:Forensic Ballistics; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: celebratory gunfire; falling bullets; forensic science; spent bullets; wound ballistics