AIR WEAPON FATALITIES

Aims-To describe characteristics of a series of people accidentally an d deliberately killed by air powered weapons. Methods-Five cases of fa tal airgun injury were identified by forensic pathologists and histopa thologists. The circumstances surrounding the case, radiological exami nation, and pathological findings are described. The weapon characteri stics are also reported. Results-Three of the victims were adult men, one was a 16 year old boy, and one an eight year old child. Four of th e airguns were.22 air rifles, the other a.177 air rifle. Two committed suicide, one person shooting himself in the head, the other in the ch est. In both cases the guns were fired at contact range. Three of the cases were classified as accidents: in two the pellet penetrated into the head and in one the chest. Conclusions-One person each year dies f rom an air powered weapon injury in the United Kingdom. In addition th ere is considerable morbidity from airgun injuries. Fatalities and inj uries are most commonly accidents, but deliberately inflicted injuries occur. Airguns are dangerous weapons when inappropriately handled and should not be considered as toys. Children should not play with airgu ns unsupervised.