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Texas, USA. These photos illustrate the appearance of a crime scene indoors involving a high velocity weapon. The man had placed the 30.06 rifle into his mouth. Note that the entire mouth and major portion of the victim’s skull are absent secondary to gunshot wound through the mouth.

Fig.1 The man had placed the 30.06 rifle into his mouth.

Head injuries from shotguns and high-powered rifles are typically quite devastating, often with extensive soft tissue destruction, skull fractures, and pulpifaction of the brain. Occasionally, the brain is largely expelled from the cranial vault and may be found near the body.

Fig.2 Major portion of the victim’s skull are absent.

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