Suicidal firearm wound from a twelve-bore shotgun. The wound shows a muzzle impression with soot soiling, the double-barrelled shotgun having been pressed against the skin at discharge. A 12-bore shotgun blast to the chest is highly fatal due to its immense kinetic energy, spread pattern, and tissue destruction. At close range, the shot penetrates deeply, causing catastrophic damage to vital organs like the heart and lungs, massive hemorrhaging, and hydrostatic shock. The dispersal of multiple pellets or a single slug creates extensive cavitation and tissue disruption. Even at longer distances, the impact is severe, leading to fatal exsanguination or pulmonary trauma. Forensically, wadding imprints or powder burns indicate proximity, while pellet spread helps reconstruct the shooting distance. Immediate medical intervention is rarely successful in such cases.
Fig.1 Suicidal firearm wound from a twelve-bore shotgun.
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