Suicide from Multiple Gunshot Wounds

Abstract

Nine cases of multiple-shot suicides (suicides involving more than two gunshot wounds) examined in the last 6 years at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. State of Maryland, are reported. All victims, with the exception of one, were white: three were women and six were men, with ages ranging from 22 to 81 years. For each case, the results of the scene investigation, the ammunition used, and the autopsy and toxicological findings are described. Each victim suffered 3-5 gunshot wounds. The most common site for the gunshot wounds of entrance was the precordial region, followed by the left chest, the head, and the abdomen. Gunshot wounds were rarely localized exclusively to the head, whereas gunshot wounds scattered on different classic suicide body sites or all confined to the precordial region and the left chest were common. A distinction between instantaneously lethal targets, rapidly lethal targets, and targets of secondary importance is provided, and the guidelines for the proper determination of a multiple-shot suicide are presented.