Search

During the investigation of firearm-related incidents, gunshot residues (GSR) can be collected on the scene and individuals (e.g., shooters or bystanders). Their analysis can give valuable information for the reconstruction of the events. Since GSR collection on persons of interest generally occurs a few minutes to hours after discharge, knowledge is needed to understand how organic (O), and inorganic (I) residues are transferred and persist. In this research, the quantities of OGSR and IGSR were assessed on the right and left hands, forearms, face, and nostrils of four shooters. Specimens were collected immediately before the discharge (shooter's blank specimens) and shortly after (30 min) using carbon adhesive stubs. Organic compounds were first extracted from the collection device and analysed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Subsequently, IGSR particles were detected on the same stub using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS). Shooter's blank specimen analysis revealed background contamination of both O and IGSR in the shooter's environment, predominantly attributed to the presence of an indoor shooting range. However, the background quantities generally remained below the associated 30-minute specimen. Thirty minutes after a discharge, higher quantities were generally detected on the shooter's right and left hands than on other collection regions for both GSR types. Forearms and face emerged as interesting collection alternatives, especially in cases where a person of interest may have washed their hands in the interval between the discharge and collection. In contrast, very low amounts of GSR were detected in the nostrils. Furthermore, the results indicated that OGSR and IGSR have different transfer and persistence mechanisms., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The use of ordnance gelatine has been widespread in the field of ballistics as a simulant for soft tissue when assessing ballistic threats. However, the traditional method of preparing ordnance gelatine is time-consuming and requires precision to ensure that the final mold meets the required specifications. Furthermore, temperature control is necessary post-production, and there are limitations on its usage duration. To address these issues, manufacturers have developed pre-mixed, gelatine-like products that are stable at room temperature and require less preparation time. Nonetheless, it is uncertain whether these new products can perform in the same manner as the gold standard of ordnance gelatine. This study used five types of blocks, including ordnance gelatine (10% and 20%), Clear Ballistics (10% and 20%) and Perma-Gel (10%) and subjected them to 9 mm, 0.380 Auto fired from a universal receiver and a 5.56 × 45 mm ammunition fired by a certified firearms instructor. Delta-V and total energy dissipation were measured after each test using data collected from ballistic chronographs placed in front of and behind each block. High-speed video was recorded, and a cut-down analysis conducted. The findings revealed variations in energy dissipation and fissure formation within the block, with greater energy based on fissure formation observed in the ordnance gelatine. Additionally, the high-speed video showed the occurrence of secondary combustions occurring in the premixed gelatines., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest.

Most firearm related homicides involve the deceased being forensically examined within a day or two, however, there are times when bodies have been examined and the fired components removed several days or weeks after death, when the body is in an active or advanced state of decomposition. In these cases, ballistic investigation has been found to be complicated due to the damage to the bullets, however the extent of this is not yet known. To date, there have been no studies investigating the effect of human decomposition and the subsequent analysis of bullets lodged in the body in an Australian context. Herein, seven fired copper jacketed bullets were manually inserted into three specific tissue types; lungs, abdomen and leg muscle (twenty-one bullets in total), of human donors in both cool and warm conditions at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER). Bullets were removed every three days for a period of twenty-one days, and each bullet underwent manual microscopic examinations by firearms examiners across Australia. Results have indicated that the bullets corrode quickly in warm conditions, compared to bullets exposed to decomposition in cooler conditions. The results of this study will inform investigators and pathologists of the need to remove and examine fired bullets from decomposed bodies as soon as possible, especially in warm conditions to provide firearms examiners with the best opportunity to link fired bullets to a common source., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The use of less lethal weapons aims to mitigate civilian casualties caused by firearm use. However, due to numerous cases in which these weapons caused serious injuries, even lethal injuries, both legislation and the forensic field are interested in characterizing and regulating them better. In the forensic field, there is a lack of strong research about injury patterns of these weapons which makes it difficult to identify the type of weapon employed. In this study, the main objective was to characterize the injury pattern produced by the impact of the 9 mm P.A.K. projectile. A porcine model was used. Four different distances were studied: firm contact, 10 cm, 60 cm and 110 cm, using 3 of the more representative anatomical sites: the head, the hind leg and the ribs. The average measurement of the entrance orifice varied according to the anatomical site, being 6.67 mm wide and 6.25 mm long in the thorax, 7.3 mm wide and 8.8 mm long in the hind legs, and 7.62 mm wide and 7.54 mm long in the head. The variation in width and length measurements was not found to be directly related to the shot distance. The gunshot residues had similar characteristics to those of conventional lead projectiles, however there was more unburned powder deposit near the wounds, with a less dense soot and more dense powder tattoo. Depth varied widely regardless of tissue and firing distance, although loss of penetrating power and injury is observed as one moves away from the target., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

When dealing with badly preserved cadavers or skeletal human remains, the assessment of death circumstances remains challenging. When forensic evidence cannot be taken from the skin and soft tissue, the information may only be deduced from more resistant elements such as bone. Compared to cranial gunshot injuries, reliable data on ballistic long bone trauma remains scarce. This study aims to define ballistic fracture characteristics in human long bones. The shaft of 16 femurs and 13 humeri from body donors was perpendicularly shot with a 9-mm Luger full metal jacket bullet at an impact velocity of 360 m/s from a distance of 2 m. Some bones were embedded in Clear Ballistics Gel®, and some were shot without soft tissue simulant in order to better visualise the fracture propagation on the high-speed camera. The fractures were examined macroscopically and compared between the sample groups. We consistently found comminuted fractures with a stellate pattern. Fracture details were classified into entrance, exit and general characteristics. For some traits, we detected different occurrence values in the group comparison. The results indicate that some of the traits depend on bone properties such as shaft diameter, bone length and cortical thickness. The presence of ballistic gel also influenced some fracture traits, emphasising the relevance of soft tissue simulant in osseous gunshot experiments. This study revealed new insights in the detailed fracture pattern of human long bones. These may serve as guidelines for the identification and reconstruction of gunshot trauma in human long bones., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The use of radiological approaches in forensic investigations is rapidly emerging as an alternative to traditional autopsies. Here, we present the experience of the Sicilian and Calabrian forensic medical departments over the past five years, highlighting the application of PMCT to support autopsies in cases involving gunshot wound victims., Materials and Methods: From January 2020 to March 2024, thirty cadavers who died from gunshot wounds underwent total body PMCT examinations followed by autopsies. The examinations included multi-planar and 3D reconstructions. Data collected for each subject included gender, age, mode of death, type of weapon, number of shots, body sites affected, and presence of retained bullets. A team of two radiologists and two forensic physicians evaluated the images and compared them with the autopsy findings., Conclusion: PMCT and 3D reconstruction enabled evaluation of entry wounds, fracture margins, injury sites, fragments, and anatomical trajectories. The results from PMCT were compared with autopsy findings in terms of entry wounds, wound channels, foreign bodies, organ and skeletal injuries, and causes of death. PMCT showed concordance with autopsy findings in determining the cause of death in all cases. The speed, non-invasiveness, and ability to manipulate and reconstruct data make PMCT an ideal technique for supporting forensic investigations and autopsies. PMCT is highly reliable for accurately identifying lethal wounds and determining the cause of death. It excels at tracking wound paths, distinguishing entrance and exit wounds, locating retained bullets, and detecting fragmentation and dispersion of ballistic components.

A smoothbore musket firing a round ball was the primary weapon of the infantry from the 16th to mid 19th century. Musket ball injuries are thus relatively common when archaeological remains of battlefield victims from that period are studied. Several experimental studies have focused on terminal ballistics of a musket ball. In addition, there is a good supply of historical records directly from the battlefield and military hospitals. Studies and historical records have both concluded that head injuries are among the most lethal types of musket ball damage. In this study we utilized modern day research methods, including Synbone ballistic skull phantoms and computed tomography (CT) imaging, to examine more closely the head injuries and tissue damage caused by a musket ball. We were especially interested to observe how different musket ball velocities and shooting distances would influence bone and soft tissue defects. Our experiments clearly demonstrated that musket ball was a lethal projectile even from a longer distance. Already at low velocities, the musket ball perforated through the skull. Velocity also influenced the appearance of entrance and exit wounds. CT imaging provided us with a three-dimensional view of the wound channel, skull fragments and lead remnants inside the skull phantom. According to our findings, musket ball velocity influenced defect size and cavitation. In addition, velocity influenced the size and distribution of skull fragments and lead remnants in the wound channel. Combining all these aspects could aid us in studies of archaeological musket ball victims. In particular, they could help us to estimate the shooting distance and shed light on the potential course of events in the battlefield., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Contact shots to the head often leave behind biological traces inside firearm barrels, a phenomenon of great forensic interest. Until now, the visualization and preservation of these traces presented a significant challenge, lacking a reliable method. This study addresses this gap by searching for a suitable method to extract the traces within a casting. Using alginate or gelatine as suitable materials, the results were hampered by serious adhesion issues and their extraction out of the firearm barrel was impeded. Finally, the combination of 11% gelatine with 1% alginate, introduced into the barrel around a 'central spine', succeeded to consistently produce replicable castings. Experimental contact shots displayed a distinct staining gradient from the muzzle to the rear of the barrel, as revealed through endoscopy and proved in the macroscopic casting. The technique proved effective for various common handgun barrels and successfully preserved blood and gunshot residue (GSR) patterns within the barrel. This method offers the dual benefits of visually mapping staining patterns and securing localized samples for targeted molecular genetic analysis in forensic investigations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Gunshot wound analysis is an important part of medicolegal practice, in both autopsies and examinations of living persons. Well-established and studied simulants exist that exhibit both physical and biomechanical properties of soft-tissues and bones. Current research literature on ballistic wounds focuses on the biomechanical properties of skin simulants. In our extensive experimental study, we tested numerous synthetic and natural materials, regarding their macromorphological bullet impact characteristics, and compared these data with those from real bullet injuries gathered from medicolegal practice. Over thirty varieties of potential skin simulants were shot perpendicularly, and at 45°, at a distance of 10 m and 0.3 m, using full metal jacket (FMJ) projectiles (9 × 19 mm Luger). Simulants included ballistic gelatine at various concentrations, dental silicones with several degrees of hardness, alginates, latex, chamois leather, suture trainers for medical training purposes and various material compound models. In addition to complying to the general requirements for a synthetic simulant, results obtained from dental silicones shore hardness 70 (backed with 20 % by mass gelatine), were especially highly comparable to gunshot entry wounds in skin from real cases. Based on these results, particularly focusing on the macroscopically detectable criteria, we can strongly recommend dental silicone shore hardness 70 as a skin simulant for wound ballistics examinations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ballistic soap blocks are used in wound ballistics to assess the potential damage of the ammunition employed, allowing observation of the energy transfer occurred along the wound channel. The density and viscosity of ballistic soap (also called tissue simulant) simulate, to a good degree of approximation, the effect resulting from the interaction of penetrating bullets with living human soft tissue. Ballistic soap has a "plastic reaction" to bullet penetration, and therefore, unlike ballistic gelatin, the expansion of temporary cavity remains imprinted in the tissue simulant. When the soap blocks are sectioned or divided with nondestructive instrumental techniques (e.g., Compton's scattering tomography), it's possible, therefore, to observe the temporary cavity determined by the penetration of the bullet. This study provides insight into the severity of injuries originated from two different types of bullets of the same caliber by employing ballistic soap as a tissue simulant. In addition, it provides guidance to forensic practitioners on the proper use of ballistic soap for simulating gunshot wounds. The semi-computational approach employed, based on the results obtained from the firing tests, allowed the authors to understand that there is likely a threshold value of projectile energy density, close to 1 J/mm 2 , beyond which its penetration into the ballistic soap ceases., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Shots with two different calibres (0.32 Auto and 9 mm Luger) were fired through phantoms that simulated human torsos, mounted on undercarriages with witness panels. The perforated phantoms were scanned with computed tomography (Siemens) using 80 kV and 140 kV and a slice thickness of 1 mm. The intracorporeal trajectories in the phantoms were compared to the known extracorporeal trajectories, derived from the perforations in witness panels. The discrepancy between the intracorporeal and extracorporeal trajectories, denoted as the absolute angle, was calculated for the trajectories before (front) and after (rear) the phantoms. Mean absolute angles at the front were lower than at the rear (2.27° vs. 4.54°) and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The results of the study imply that the line between the entrance and the exit wound in a scanned victim can be extended to the extracorporeal bullet trajectory leading towards the entrance wound. The absolute angles presented in this study give an impression of the expected errors with the two calibres. This can be helpful in shooting investigations to assess the position of the shooter from entrance and exit wounds in a scanned victim., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Human surrogates have long been employed to simulate human behaviour, beginning in the automotive industry and now widely used throughout the safety framework to estimate human injury during and after accidents and impacts. In the specific context of blunt ballistics, various methods have been developed to investigate wound injuries, including tissue simulants such as clays or gelatine ballistic, physical dummies and numerical models. However, all of these surrogate entities must be biofidelic, meaning they must accurately represent the biological properties of the human body. This paper provides an overview of physical and numerical surrogates developed specifically for blunt ballistic impacts, including their properties, use and applications. The focus is on their ability to accurately represent the human body in the context of blunt ballistic impact., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Computed tomography (CT) may have a crucial role in the forensic documentation and analysis of firearm injuries. The aim of this forensic ballistics case study was to explore whether two types of expanding bullets and a full metal-jacketed bullet could be differentiated by inspecting bullet fragments and fragmentation pattern in CT. Three types of .30 caliber bullets (full metal-jacketed Norma Jaktmatch, expanding full-copper Norma Ecostrike, and expanding soft-point Norma Oryx) were test fired from a distance of 5 m to blocks of 10% ballistic gelatine. CT scans of the blocks were obtained with clinical equipment and metal artifact reduction. Radiopaque fragments were identified and fragmentation parameters were obtained from the scans (total number of fragments, maximum diameter of the largest fragment, distance between entrance and the closest fragment, length of the fragment cloud, and maximum diameters of the fragment cloud). The fragmentation patterns were additionally visualized by means of 3D reconstruction. In CT, the bullet types differed in several fragmentation parameters. While the expanding full-copper bullet Ecostrike left behind only a single fragment near the end of the bullet channel, the soft-point Oryx had hundreds of fragments deposited throughout the channel. For both expanding bullets Ecostrike and Oryx, the fragments were clearly smaller than those left behind by the full metal-jacketed Jaktmatch. This was surprising as the full metal-jacketed bullet was expected to remain intact. The fragment cloud of Jaktmatch had similar mediolateral and superoinferior diameters to that of Oryx; however, fragments were deposited in the second half of the gelatine block, and not throughout the block. This case study provides a basis and potential methodology for further experiments. The findings are expected to benefit forensic practitioners with limited background information on gunshot injury cases, for example, those that involve several potential firearms or atypical gunshot wounds. The findings may prove beneficial for both human and wildlife forensics., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The aim of this study is to analyze the injury potential of the free-falling bullet in the cranium, which is known as a tired bullet in the public, with the finite element method (FEM) In the study, as penetrant 9 × 19 mm FMJ bullets with vertical falling angle, adult human skull and brain tissue were discussed. The results of the analysis with the Finite element method, which is similar to the cases reported before, revealed that free-falling bullets as a result of shooting into the air can cause fatal injuries., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None Declared., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Analyses of the human bones failure mechanisms under projectile impact conditions can be made through performing of a large number of ballistic trials. But the amount of data that can be collected during ballistic experiments is limited due to the high dynamics of the process and its destructive character. Numerical analyses may support experimental methodologies allowing to better understand the principles of the phenomenon. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to create and to verify a numerical model of commercially available synthetic bone material-Synbone®. The model could be used in the future as a supporting tool facilitating forensic studies or designing processes of personal protection systems (helmets, bulletproof vests, etc.). Although Synbone® is commonly used in the ballistic experiments, the literature lacks reliable numerical models of this material. In order to define a numerical model of Synbone®, mechanical experiments characterizing the response of the material to the applied loads in a wide range of strains and strain rates were carried out. Based on the mechanical tests results, an appropriate material model was selected for the Synbone® composite and the values of constants in its equations were determined. Material characterization experiments were subsequently reproduced with numerical simulations and a high correlation of the results was obtained. The final validation of the material model was based on the comparison of the ballistic impact experiments and simulation results. High similarity obtained (relative error lower than 10%) demonstrates that the numerical model of Synbone® material was properly defined., (© 2023 The Authors. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The article presents the experimental study results of damaged clothes imitators' (coarse calico) features in consequence of shot by ammunitions with hollow-point bullet from a 12-gauge fire smoothbore weapon (12×70). The generation mechanism of coarse calico damage during wound of underlying biological human body's imitator by bullet and the factors influencing on mentioned process have been clarified using high-speed video recording.

Objective: To study the morphology of distribution of shot factors on white targets made of coarse calico at different distances., Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 57 experimental damages of targets made of cotton fabric, caused by shots from hunting self-loading Steyr Mannlicher AUG-Z3 carbine of.223 Rem caliber. The number of experimental firings equal 19 was done by 3 shots at the distance from close range to 250 cm. The examination of shot targets was carried out using the visual, metric, stereoscopic (Leica 125M microscope) methods, in ultraviolet rays (LUMATEC SUPERLITE M Series light)., Results: The nature and morphology of distribution of gunshot residue on targets' surfaces made it possible to establish close range firing zones. The nature in which soot is deposited during shot under the conditions of point-blank range and in the first zone of close range (up to 8 cm) allows to establish the position of weapon's transverse plane relative to the target basing on a specific blowout of a gas-powder jet from special design of flame arrestor. The performed experimental shooting from hunting self-loading Steyr Mannlicher AUG-Z3 carbine made it possible to determine the metric and morphological characteristics of the close range firing zones: 1 zone is equal a distance up to 8 cm; 2 zone - up to 30 cm; 3 zone - up to 100 cm from muzzle of weapon. The design features of Steyr Mannlicher AUG-Z3 carbine's flame arrestor allow to identify the type of weapon according to the morphological pattern of target's damage. The complex of obtained data makes it possible to determine the firing distance with high accuracy.

The purpose of the scientific work is to outline the main stages of the development of forensic examination of gunshot injuries in Russia. The analysis of the special literature from 1865 to the present time has demonstrated that the issue of forensic examination of gunshot injuries has been analyzed quite deeply by Russian forensic specialists. Meanwhile, expert practice sets forth tasks that are associated with the emergence of new firearm samples and new methods of laboratory and instrumental diagnosis.

The aim of this study was to establish the degree of projectile incidence angle with obstacle on forensic medical characteristic of gunshot injuries arising from smoothbore weapon fire and bullet ricochet. Based on the comprehensive forensic study results of experimental entry gunshot injuries, statistically significant differences in the following morphological signs were found for two ranges of incidence angle values (10-20° and 30-50°): «Number of MD», «Length 1 MD», «Length 2 MD», «Width 1 MD», «Orientation of AD to the conventional clock face relative to MD 1 or to the group of largest MD (max. value)». The medians and limits of 99% confidence intervals of these features values were observed depending on the range of incidence angle values. The revealed patterns can be used in expert practice during forensic medical examination of gunshot injuries formed as a result of a projectile ricochet after smoothbore weapon fire, as well as to develop a methodology for conducting a forensic study of this gunshot injury type.

The aim of the present study was to establish whether the size (diameter and area) of bullet entrance holes in skin varies between distant shots to the anterior and posterior trunk, respectively, when using the same ammunition (in concreto pistol cartridges 9 mm Luger). For that purpose, specimens of porcine skin from the belly region and the back were taken (10 samples each) and shot at from a distance of 1.6 m. The entrance holes were photo-documented under standardised conditions. After image processing for contrast enhancement, the maximum diameter and the area of each skin defect were measured automatically by means of an image analysis system. Both size parameters differed significantly depending on the body region affected. On the back with its comparatively thick dermis, the skin defects were considerably smaller than those on the ventral trunk where the corium is less thick. This difference can be explained by the fact that the elastic properties of skin are strongly determined by the connective tissue which is especially rich in fibres. The study results were consistent with the authors' casework experience and support the assumption that the entrance site of gunshot wounds has a major influence on the size of the bullet hole in skin., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

This study revisited the forensic literature to compile case-specific characteristics of the tandem-bullet phenomenon (TBP). A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) and The Joanna Briggs Institute's manual. The protocol was registered in Open Science Framework. Ten primary databases and two sources of grey literature were searched, with descriptive studies on TBP, with information about the victim, weapon, ammunition and injuries, being included. From an initial sample of 2360 studies, 13 were eligible. The studies reported 11 male and 2 female victims, with ages between 14 and 63 years (mean = 39.45 ± 14.51 years); seven were victims of suicide (or suicide attempt); most of the victims (69.23%) were shot in the head and neck; and most (84.61%) had an entry and exit wound ratio of 1:0, respectively. The use of image exams to assess injuries and bullets was reported in 12 cases (92.30%). The most frequent reasons for the TBP were the mismatch between weapon and ammunition and the use of defective cartridges (76.92%). Forensic professionals must be aware of the case-specific characteristics of the TBP to overcome confounding factors in wound ballistics and medicolegal examinations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This study was financed in part by the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES), finance code 001, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Luiz Renato Paranhos was the financed author. No other financial association is related to the present study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

In contrast to cranial gunshot trauma, diagnosis and interpretation of gunshot trauma to long bones remains difficult and controversial. The aim of this study is to review the published literature on fracture patterns resulting from gunshot trauma in human long bones, and to use the described characteristics to provide practical guidance for the forensic anthropologist. In order to achieve this, medical and forensic publications on this topic were reviewed. Several types of fractures, such as linear, oblique, comminuted and butterfly fractures, have been observed in either the shaft or the ends of long bones. Indirect fractures that are not caused by bullets striking bone directly but by bullet-induced forces to the surrounding soft tissue have been found as well. Some of these fractures are related to a specific context or mechanism which might help in the forensic reconstruction of events. It is recommended that future research should focus on available medical data to provide more detailed descriptions on fracture patterns for forensic purposes. Experimentation with bone surrogates and computer modelling might also provide better and more realistic reconstructions of gunshot trauma in the future and provide valuable insights for its diagnosis and interpretation in forensic anthropology., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The ballistic resistance of a combined soft tissue simulant was studied, consisting of gelatine as a simulant for human muscle tissue and tanned cowhide (leather) as a simulant for human skin. The simulant was manufactured by applying cowhide to liquid ballistic gelatine, as the gelatine solidified in its mould. Combining a skin and muscle tissue simulant in this adhered way opens the possibility to produce purpose-built proxies for human body parts in ballistic studies or for forensic shooting incident reconstructions. Ballistic resistance of adhered cowhide - (bonded) to solidifying ballistic gelatine - was compared to that of the same material applied on gelatine blocks in loose condition. Ballistic resistance of tanned cowhide was found to be more consistent in adhered condition. This enhanced consistency is a benefit, increasing reproducibility of results in ballistic studies. Additionally, two ways to assess ballistic resistance of a skin simulant were described and compared. Logistic regression, from a number of measured velocities and associated (non)perforations is recommended for testing ballistic resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare there is no conflict of interest concerning this study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Numerous studies have been conducted by using sophisticated methodologies for the deduction of range in cases of firearm injuries. However, the stark dearth of literature for similar purpose by just simple analysis of blood traces on items of clothing is astonishing., Purpose: This study was done to determine the relationship between range of a rifled firearm and blood traces on the clothing of victims in firearm injuries., Methodology: Simulation experiments were performed by firing test shots in closed shooting range by using a Glock 17 pistol (9 mm luger) into pieces of clothing soaked with sheep blood. A total of 132 shots were fired. The morphologies and amount of blood spatter formed over a range varying from 5 cm to 100 cm (shooting angle-90°) were studied., Results: An inverse relationship was found to exist between morphology of blood traces produced on the target and the distance of the shot fired. The misting and micro-blood spatters were recorded at a range of 5-60 cm. The distance from which shots were fired carried significant impact on the appearance and density of the spray and the blood spatter., Conclusions: The results provide a scientifically determined, statistically valid and simple equation formula in the most cost effective and easy manner for the deduction of range by mere examination of clothing in cases of firearm injuries. The requirements of the sacrifice of animals, and/or extrapolation of the results to humans by conducting experiments using hypothetical targets were also obviated in this study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Some pistol bullets exhibit atypical wound ballistic behavior that can result in misleading and misinterpreted entry gunshot wounds. We demonstrate the atypical performance and behavior of these bullets using (1) high-speed videography of projectiles penetrating, perforating, and exiting soft tissue simulants; (2) Doppler radar tracking throughout simulated wound production; (3) downrange witness panels to record postperforation bullet orientation during a secondary impact; (4) laser tracking to assess and compare postperforation bullet deflection; (5) evaluation of "bullet wipe" around entry bullet holes in a victim's clothing; and (6) projectile penetration depth for differentiating primary from secondary gunshot wounds. Truncated cone and certain flat-point full-metal-jacketed pistol bullets in the 3 most common calibers of 9 mm, .40 caliber, and .45 caliber typically perforate the victim with little or no yawing, producing straight wound tracks and continuing to travel nose forward upon exiting. Any secondary gunshot victim downrange sustains a normal-appearing entry wound. Common pistol bullets exiting gunshot victims are typically destabilized and enter a yawing or tumbling flight, resulting in entry wounds that appear as typical, first strike entry wounds when in fact, they are secondary gunshot wounds. However, some bullets retain their nose-forward flight after emerging from a gunshot victim. These secondary but normal-appearing, round-shaped entry wounds may be erroneously identified as direct, primary strikes., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Violence related injuries and deaths mostly caused by firearms are a major problem throughout the world. Understanding the factors that control the extent of hard-soft tissue wound patterns using computer imaging techniques, numerical methods, and machine learning algorithms may help physicians to diagnose and treat those injuries more properly. Here, we investigate the use of computational results coupled with the pattern recognition algorithms to develop an approach for forensic applications. Initially, computer tomography (CT) images of the patient whose leg was shot by a 9 × 19 parabellum bullet are used to construct the FE models of that patient's femoral bone and the surrounding soft tissues. Then, Hounsfield units-based material properties are assigned to elements of the bone. To simulate the full range of loading conditions encountered in ballistic events, a constitutive model that captures the strain-rate dependent response is implemented. The entrance pathway vector of the bullet is directed in accordance with the patient's wound and the simulations are deployed for the cases having various inlet velocities such as 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 m/s. Once the FE results for each case are obtained, they are processed with supervised machine learning algorithms to classify the wound and inlet velocity correspondence. The results demonstrate that they can be diagnosed with a percent accuracy of 97.3, 97.5, and 98.3 for the decision tree (DT), k -nearest neighbors (kNN) and support vector machine (SVM) classifier, respectively. This approach may provide a useful framework in classifying the wound type, predicting the bullet impact velocity and its firing distance.

Almost 60 years after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the majority of Americans are still reluctant to believe official reports presented by the commissions gathered in 1964 and again in 1976 that determined the direction of the shot resulting in the fatal head injury. Long-withheld, confidential government files released in 2017 reignited the controversy. The present investigation computationally simulated projectile-skull-impacts from the direction specified in official reports and from three other directions. Detailed geometric models of the human head and ammunition, as well as known parameters from the assassination site served as the supportive base for analysis. Constitutive mathematical models for the impact of projectile material with skull tissues at supersonic speed were employed to analyze bone and bullet fragmentation mechanics. Simulated fracture characteristics of bone and bullet were compared with photographic and X-ray evidence. The most likely origin of the fatal shot was determined based on the degree of corresponding deformation and fragmentation between simulation and documented evidence. Computational corroboration could be established as physically consistent with high-speed impact from the rear, as established by the official commissions. Simulations of three other speculative shot origins did not correspond with the documented evidence., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rifles are often involved in violent deaths such as homicide and suicide. Consequently, expert knowledge and experimental forensic investigations are important to clarify the nature of ballistic trauma when applied to the human head and neurocranium. This study investigated differences in entrance wound morphology with Synbone® spheres which are described as being comparable to human flat bones. A series of ballistic experiments were conducted using two different rifle calibers (5.56 × 45 mm and 7.62 × 39 mm Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)). Synbone® spheres were used for close-range 0.3 m simulated executions as well as at 25 m and 35 m to simulate urban and military engagements. Results were compared with previously published experimental studies using similar military ammunition. In our study, entry wound morphology closely resembles real forensic cases compared to exit wound and overall shape morphology independently of the distance and the caliber. Circumferential delamination was clearly visible with full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds, yielding similar damage pattern morphology to the human crania. This study documented the presence of hydraulic burst or shock in all ten rounds from all three distances. Krönlein shots were also observed in some cases. Synbone® spheres constitute an acceptable synthetic surrogate for ballistic experiments. The present study offers new initial data on the behavior of Synbone® proxies in ballistic testing of military ammunitions; FMJ gunshot injuries to the human head, for distances that have not previously been published, suggesting that efficient tests can take place under these conditions. Further research on experimental ballistics with a larger number of controlled factors and multiple repetitions is recommended to verify the results of this pilot study before applied in forensic simulations., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

In the specialized forensic medical literature there is no data that allow to reliably and objectively confirm application «Paradox» or «Lancaster» boring firearms to cause injury. This study analyzes the literature in order to determine the possibility of diagnosing these types of weapon's barrel boring by the morphology of injury. The results of the analysis demonstrate a high probability of barrel boring type distinctive features existing. In addition, has been found the opportunity to determine the type of bullet in the cartridge used to damage. Concluded that it is necessary to do an additional experimental research of the specified conditions for causing firearm injuries.

The purpose of the work was to study the movement trajectory of the projectile after breaking through an obstacle made of various materials installed at various angles to the aiming line when firing from rifled and traumatic weapons. As a result of a series of experimental shots by shells fired from a traumatic pistol «Jorge» (9×22 mm RA cartridge with an initial velocity of 300±20 m/s and a bullet weight of 0.7 g) and the Blaser R93 carbine (Norma Jaktmatch 9.3×62 mm hunting cartridge with an initial speed of 765 m/s and a bullet weight of 11 g) it has been found that, when punching both biological simulators and triplex glass located at the angles of 40-60° with respect to the aiming line, a deflection of the firearm from the aiming line is observed.

The study objective is to establish the effect of the type of experimental target (biological, non-biological) on the forensic medical characteristics of gunshot injuries resulting from bullet and shrapnel ricochet when fired from a smooth-bore weapon. Differences in the skin and clothing or their imitators render different morphological patterns of the input gunshot injuries. Based on the results of the ballistic experiment, a list of statistically significant differences in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the input gunshot injuries to biological and non-biological targets as a result of a ricochet when a bullet is fired from a smooth-bore weapon was compiled. In addition, the characteristics of the input gunshot injuries were established, demonstrating statistically significant differences only in certain combinations of the specified types of bullet and experimental target. The results obtained can be used in medical forensic examinations of gunshot injuries.

The purpose of this study was to establish a set of distinctive features of the qualitative and quantitative parameters of gunshot injuries resulting from the ricochet of a bullet and buckshot when firing from a smooth-bore weapon, depending on the type of experimental barrier. As a result of the ballistic experiment, a list of statistically significant characteristics of input gunshot injuries of biological and non-biological targets formed when firing with a bullet and buckshot followed by a ricochet was revealed, which will enable to determine the sought type of barrier from the two suggested options: «Concrete 2» or «Brick», «Concrete 2» or «Metal», «Brick» or «Metal». Besides, a list of characteristics of input gunshot injuries has been established, the parameters of which are under statistically significant influence of the type of experimental barrier. The revealed patterns can be used to reconstruct the circumstances of an incident during situational examination depending on the characteristics of input gunshot injuries as a result of a ricochet when firing from a smooth-bore weapon.

Blank cartridge guns are prevalent especially in countries with laws restricting access to conventional firearms, and it is a common misconception that these weapons are harmless and only used as toys or for intimidation. However, although their harming potential is well-documented by numerous reports of accidents, suicides, and homicides, a systematic molecular biological investigation of traces generated by shots from blank cartridges at biological targets has not been done so far. Herein, we investigate the occurrence and analyzability of backspatter generated by shots of different types of blank cartridge guns firing different types of blank ammunition at ballistic gelatin model cubes doped with human blood and radiological contrast agent soaked into a spongious matrix and covered with three different variants of skin simulants. All skin simulants were penetrated, and backspatter was created in 100% of the shots in amounts sufficient for forensic short tandem repeat (STR) typing that resulted in the correct identification of the respective blood donor. Visible backspatter was documented on the muzzle and/or inside the barrel in all cases, and in 75% of cases also on the outer surfaces and on the shooter's hand(s). Wound cavities were measured and ranged between 1 and 4.5 cm in depth. Discussing our findings, we provide recommendations for finding, recovering, and analyzing trace material from blank guns, and we demonstrate the considerable hazard potential of these devices, which is further emphasized by the presentation of a comprehensive overview of the pertinent literature on injuries inflicted by blank guns., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Molecular ballistics combines molecular biological, forensic ballistic, and wound ballistic insights and approaches in the description, collection, objective investigation, and contextualization of the complex patterns of biological evidence that are generated by gunshots at biological targets. Setting out in 2010 with two seminal publications proving the principle that DNA from backspatter collected from inside surfaces of firearms can be retreived and successfully be analyzed, molecular ballistics covered a lot of ground until today. In this review, 10 years later, we begin with a comprehensive description and brief history of the field and lay out its intersections with other forensic disciplines like wound ballistics, forensic molecular biology, blood pattern analysis, and crime scene investigation. In an application guide section, we aim to raise consciousness to backspatter traces and the inside surfaces of firearms as sources of forensic evidence. Covering crime scene practical as well as forensic genetic aspects, we introduce operational requirements and lay out possible procedures, including forensic RNA analysis, when searching for, collecting, analyzing, and contextualizing such trace material. We discuss the intricacies and rationales of ballistic model building, employing different tissue, skin, and bone simulants and the advantages of the "triple-contrast" method in molecular ballistics and give advice on how to stage experimental shootings in molecular ballistic research. Finally, we take a look at future applications and prospects of molecular ballistics.

Current methods used in terminal ballistics to determine the volume of temporary cavities created by projectiles in soft tissue simulants (such as ballistic soap) usually involve silicone-casting to obtain the cavity moulds. However, these methods have important drawbacks including their little sensitivity and precision, besides the fact that they are destructive. Imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) might not only overcome those limitations but also offer useful tools for digitally reporting the scientific results. This work accomplished the 3D digital reconstruction of the cavities created by different projectiles in ballistic soap blocks. This way, the total volume of the cavities, the projectile penetration depths, and other measurements were determined, rendering better capabilities when compared to the current silicone method. All these features were achieved through the CT analysis and 3D Slicer imaging software. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the method can preserve the evidence by digitally obtaining, signing, and storing the infographic videos displaying the 3D-reconstructed cavities. Graphical abstract.

Backspatter is biological material that is ejected from the entry wound against the line of fire. This phenomenon was also observed in wound ballistic simulations using so called "reference cubes" (12 cm edge length, 10% gelatin, 4 °C, paint pad beneath the cover). High-speed video records from 102 experimental shots to these target models using full metal jacketed bullets in the calibers .32 auto, .38 special, 9 mm Luger and .357 Magnum were analyzed for chronology, morphological appearance and velocity of fluid ejection. Generally, a short tail splashing of surface material occurred when the bullet was penetrating the target. In 51 shots from distance (≥ 5 cm), regardless of caliber and shot range, a linear jet of fluid started in connection with the first collapse of the temporary cavity. The initial velocity of the jet was measured between 6 and 45 m/s. The jet was streaming on for about 60 to 100 ms with a stochastic deviation of ± 13° to the horizontal. Close range and contact shots showed earlier and faster (up to 330 m/s) backspatter depending on the cartridge and the gap between muzzle and target. Gaseous aerosol-like spray and cone-like spatter indicated an increasing influence of muzzle gases with decreasing shot range. Even under standardized experimental conditions, variations of backspatter were observed in near/contact shots.

This case report describes medicolegal examinations of a decedent with a fatal gunshot wound. The decedent lied on the floor as a bullet was fired into his chest. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed as part of the judicial investigation. The MRI examination was valuable for delineating the wound channel through the left ventricle, which was deemed the main cause for internal bleeding and fatal blood loss. The diagnostic value of CT for the detection of injuries was low in this case. However, CT allowed for the virtual investigation of bullet fragments. According to CT-based dual-energy index calculations, it could be inferred that the fragments were most likely made of lead matching .357 Magnum R-P cartridges that were found at the scene. The bullet fragments were located underneath the skin at the suspected exit wound. The exit wound was actually an exit-re-entrance wound, as it can be assumed that the fragments re-entered the body after the bullet burst from hard ground upon exiting the body of the decedent, who was lying on the floor. CT visualized an uncommon annular distribution pattern for the bullet fragments surrounding the exit-re-entrance wound. The formation of such an annular distribution pattern of bullet fragments and the relevant conclusions that may be drawn from such a distribution pattern are discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

"Bullet wipe" is the material deposited by a bullet on any surface with which it comes into contact after it is fired and may contain debris from the gun barrel, including particles of primer and metal fragments from previously fired bullets. X-ray analysis is a non-destructive method by which traces of metallic elements can be visually detected. The analysis of osseous defects for radiodense bullet wipe (RBW) assists in determining the presence or absence of perforating gunshot wounds, especially in fragmented, skeletonized remains. The aim of our current study was to determine the frequency of RBW around entrance firearms injuries that perforated bone. We prospectively analyzed entrance gunshot wounds for RBW over a three-year period using digital X-ray analysis (n = 59). We retrospectively reviewed the corresponding autopsy reports to determine the frequency of RBW by biologic sex, reported ancestry, age-at-death, location of wound, manner of death, range of fire, bullet caliber, and presence of bullet jacket. Data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test or Chi-square test with significance levels accepted at p < 0.05. RBW was present in 66% (n = 39) of examined cases. Decedent characteristics did not significantly alter RBW distribution, including biologic sex (p = 0.75), reported ancestry (p = 0.49), and age-at-death (p = 0.43). Additionally, the location of the osseous entrance gunshot wound, manner of death, range of fire, and cartridge caliber did not affect RBW detection. All cases involving non-jacketed rounds (n = 5) showed RBW (p = 0.30). To our knowledge, this study is the first to report the frequency of RBW detection from osseous entrance gunshot wounds., (© 2020 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.)

This article presents the results of research relating to the ricocheting of hunting ammunition and the application of these results to the investigation of a specific gunshot death, which occurred during a hunt for boars. The scene and autopsy findings revealed that a bullet had first struck a pair of binoculars around the victim's neck before entering his body. As the investigation proceeded, however, questions were raised as to whether the shot was a direct one or a ricochet. The case was thus referred to forensic medicine experts for their opinion. Experiments were conducted, which demonstrated that, although test ammunition could ricochet, the rebound fragments possessed insufficient kinetic energy to pierce the binoculars. On the basis of the experiments, it was determined that the victim had been killed by a direct shot and that the bullet had pierced the intermediate target of the binoculars before entering his body. The possibility of a ricochet producing the injuries found, that is, the victim being struck with a bullet or fragments rebounding from an obstacle, was considered unlikely.

Vincent van Gogh died on July 29, 1890, from an apparent gunshot wound to the belly sustained approximately 30 hours earlier on July 27. Although little is known how Vincent sustained his mortal wound, art historians have long believed that the death was the result of a suicide, a widely accepted "truth" for the mysterious death of the then unknown and now iconic artist. The basis and validity of this suicide narrative is still very hotly debated among van Gogh scholars to this day. We dug deeper into all the circumstantial evidence and testimonies to arrive at a comprehensive overview of the probability that it was likely impossible for Vincent to self-inflict his mortal wound.We used all the available circumstantial evidence related to the day Vincent van Gogh was wounded to present the information and conclusions as if we were before a judge as expert witnesses to answer the question: suicide or murder? If Vincent did not shoot himself in the belly (a red flag in and of itself), whoever inflicted that penetrating wound into his abdomen murdered him. In our study, results from firing the same model revolver that allegedly killed Vincent from various ranges (direct contact, intermediate, and distant) demonstrated within a reasonable degree of medical probability (greater than 50%) that it was not probable for Vincent van Gogh to shoot himself without a described powder burn.With little forensic evidence to rely on 130 years after the suspicious event, many have suggested a respectful exhumation and graveside autopsy utilizing 21 century techniques to bring resolve to this 19 century cold case. This crime, whether suicide or murder, has generated renewed interest and numerous questions surrounding the suspicious death of the most iconic artist of the 19th century. These missing forensic facts will remain buried with all the secrets Vincent took with him to his grave, unless a definitive autopsy is performed. What an autopsy could add to our forensic fact basis and understanding of this intriguing cold case is enormous and further delineated as the next step to answer these difficult, otherwise unanswerable questions and allow us to finally sign off on his death certificate with certainty.It is clearly impossible to definitively prove suicide or murder, but it is also impossible to disprove murder given the data and arguments offered in this analysis. A physician's opinion is based on the material available to him, and in this case, "our opinion as to the cause and manner of death is based on the limited amount of forensic information available. It is, therefore, our opinion, based on that limited information that in all medical probability, the cause of death is not a self-inflicted wound by Vincent van Gogh, and, thus, in all medical probability, a homicide."

In this study we have evaluated the detectability of lead deriving from Gunshot Residues (GSR) on human bone using colorimetric techniques as well as the possible interferences of decalcification on the stainability of these particles. 22 well preserved cadavers were divided into two groups: group A enlisted 11 victims deceased because of gunshot injuries (bones and soft tissues sampled in correspondence of the entry wound of the bullet)- and group B, comprehending 11 victims deceased for natural causes (specimens sampled from intact skin areas). All the samples, after decalcification processes for bone specimens with a 14 % HCl solution, underwent standard histological procedures and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), sodium rhodizonate (Na-R) and acidified sodium rhodizonate (Na-R-HCl 5 %). Two additional slides of soft tissues for each group were pre-treated with HCl 14 % before being stained with likewise staining. In group A, 10 samples out of 11 resulted to be negative to Na-R and Na-R-HCl 5% techniques while all the corresponding soft tissues resulted to be positive for the same staining. Additional soft tissue slides processed with 14 % HCl solution were negative in 10 cases out of 11. No sample in group B showed positivity to the staining procedures neither with nor without pre-treatment with 14 % HCl. The search for GSR residues on human bone is therefore not executable with Na-R and Na-R-HCl 5 % techniques since the essential decalcifying procedure modifies the stainability of the residues therefore adulterating the results., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study analyses variable levels of body fragmentation among secondary mass grave sites with similar formation process history. The study is based on data from 10 commingled secondary mass grave sites and two primary sites related to the war in Bosnia in 1995. The aim was to investigate differences in level of body fragmentation between mass graves of similar origin and taphonomy. In order to quantify the degree of fragmentation (and level of commingling) within a grave, we introduced a fragmentation index (FI). FI represents the ratio between the number of complete bodies and number of body parts from the same context. Results show high discrepancies in body fragmentations between different sites. FI for secondary sites of similar formation history varied from 0.01 to 0.59 (max = 1), while two primary sites have values 0.92 and 0.90 respectively. Variable levels of fragmentation among similar secondary sites suggest a possibility of different peri mortem circumstances of buried, so we tested whether the "body fragmentation index" could assist in elucidating the manner of death. Unusually high levels of body fragmentation (FI value below 0.1) in some secondary sites may indicate that body disarticulation was most likely caused peri-mortem by explosives, land mines, mortars or tank fire, all suggesting a combat situation., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study explored the impact of different frequencies of knowledge of results (KR) on velocity performance during ballistic training. Fifteen males completed four identical sessions (three sets of six repetitions at 30% one-repetition maximum during the countermovement jump and bench press throw) with the only difference of the KR condition provided: no feedback, velocity feedback after the first half of repetitions of each set (HalfKR), velocity feedback immediately after each repetition (ImKR), and feedback of the average velocity of each set (AvgKR). When compared with the control condition, the ImKR reported the highest velocity performance (1.9-5.3%), followed by the HalfKR (1.3-3.6%) and AvgKR (0.7-4.3%). These results support the verbal provision of velocity performance feedback after every repetition to induce acute improvements in velocity performance.