CHASING THE CASING - A 38-SPECIAL SUICIDE

Multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds of the head are uncommon. Detai led history, scene investigation, autopsy findings, consideration of b allistics, and evidentiary proceedings are necessary to determine the manner of death in these cases. This report involves a pattern of atyp ical, self-inflicted bullet wounds of the head of a 26-year-old male. Investigation confirmed that a single eyewitness and several earwitnes ses reported a single discharge of a firearm. The eyewitness testified that the decedent singly discharged a Smith & Wesson revolver, calibe r .38 Special, to the right side of his head after interposing several objects between the muzzle and his skin immediately prior to discharg e. He was declared brain dead two days later. At necropsy two contiguo us atypical entry wounds were present in the right preauricular temple . The inferior wound was interpreted to be a near contact wound. The g ray metal slug fragmented, creating separate tracks to the right maxil lary sinus and the mid left posterior cerebrum, respectively. The larg er, atypical wound of entry was associated with passage of the project ile through the right temporalis muscle and squamous temporal bone. Th e projectile, consisting of a slightly distorted empty metallic cartri dge case containing a ''live'' primer, was recovered from its point of final lodgment in the right temporal lobe. The literature addressing paired entry wounds following single discharge of the firearm with int erposed targets is relatively sparse. Cases reporting multiple bullet wounds involving suicide are only sporadically reported This report su mmarizes the investigative findings supporting the determination of th e manner of death and revealing the interesting origin of the ''mispla ced'' casing.