Jm. Guileyardo et al., RACIAL AND ETHNIC PATTERNS IN FIREARMS DEATHS, The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology, 15(4), 1994, pp. 328-330
In the United States, there is currently an epidemic of firearms viole
nce. Among victims of this violence, there are striking racial and eth
nic patterns in the manners and circumstances of death. This study was
conducted to explore and quantitate some of these differences. Autops
y and investigation reports of 554 consecutive firearms deaths in Dall
as County, Texas, from March 1992 to February 1993 were reviewed. Over
all suicide rates by race for 1970 and 1990 were calculated. Suicide r
ates for blacks have increased while overall rates (all races) have de
creased slightly. Large racial and ethnic differences in the homicide-
suicide ratio (H:S) were found (0.42 in non-Hispanic whites; 7.44 in o
thers) (p < 0.001). Non-Hispanic whites who committed suicide with a f
irearm were less likely than other groups to do so with another person
present (12% non-Hispanic whites; 49% others) (p < 0.001). Blacks and
Asians who committed suicide with a firearm killed another person in
67% of witnessed cases (those with another person present during the i
ncident). Whites (Hispanics and non-Hispanics) killed another person i
n only 12% of witnessed firearm suicides. The data suggest that the su
btypes, psychodynamics, and causes of suicide may currently differ amo
ng racial and ethnic groups. These differences should be considered in
order to formulate adequate prevention strategies and to assess the s
uicide and homicide risk in depressed individuals. The difficulty of a
ccurate death certification in some cases is also discussed.