Internal ricochet in close range firearm injury: A case report

Abstract

The disparity from commonly encountered findings in death due to firearm injury can lead to difficulty in differentiating entry wound from exit wound, tracing the wound track and retrieving the projectile which is crucial evidence in the investigation of death due to gunshot injuries. Atypical firearm injuries can pose difficulty in interpretation if the forensic pathologist is not equipped with adequate knowledge. Herein we report a case of atypical firearm injury caused due to internal ricochet of the bullet within the chest cavity, where the entry wound was just below the right axilla without an exit wound.