engleski

Two bullets, four corpses – accidental deaths from firearms

Unintentional firearm death is considered as having marginal contribution to overall rate of gun deaths. Multiple fatalities by single shooting are even more uncommon. We report on two cases of combined fatal wounding of two individuals with a single missile. Case 1. Twenty-two-year-old man started playing with his handgun during a party. Suddenly, he sat on the lap of 16-year-old girl, put the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The weapon discharged causing a perforating wound of his head and neck. Continuing its path, the missile struck girl’s head. Case 2. Twenty-one-year old policeman was in the snack-bar together with his colleagues. Suffering from extremely depressive mood, he loaded his gun. Despite warnings, he pointed a gun against his temple and discharged it. Missile passed through his head and reached the head of colleague sitting next to him. All four died from the wounds inflicted. The perpetuator in Case 1 died from bleeding, the others from brain injury. Both perpetuators died instantaneously, while secondary victims succumbed despite neurosurgical interventions. The missile or its fragments were recovered from skulls of both secondary victims. Circumstances suggested an accidental discharge in Case 1 and suicide in Case 2. Both gun handlers were members of special police forces, using the same type of handguns – 9 mm FM Argentina. Alcohol intake (BACs were 0.45 and 1.41 g/kg, respectively) contributed to uncritical behavior of perpetuator in Case 1, while in Case 2 facilitated realizing suicidal decision.

firearms; accidental death; gunshot wounds

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