Firearm as a blunt weapon – Three cases of pistol whipping and a review of the literature

Abstract

Firearm weapons are not just limited to firing projectiles but can also be employed in beating a person. When used for imparting blows, they produce characteristic soft tissue injuries in the form of abrasions, bruises, hematomas, and lacerations with or without associated fractures. The hits are preferably given over the head. The hands may show typical defense wounds if the victim is conscious and anticipatory. The contours and dimensions of injuries may correspond to different parts of the gun, thereby allowing a possible weapon match. Three autopsy cases of gunshot homicides are herein reported whereby, in addition to the gunshot injuries, patterned blunt injuries over the head of all the decedents were noted with/without underlying impressed fracture(s) of skull. The injuries represented blows sustained from different parts of the pistol(s) employed in killing. The morphological patterns and weapon-centric specificity of wounds as well as the diagnostic cautions required during their interpretation at autopsy are discussed.

Keywords

• Gunshot
• Firearm
• Blunt injury
• Patterned injury
• Laceration