Term
| Developing Homicide vs. Suicide |
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Definition
| More suicides than homicides; multiple gunshot wounds; distance & directionality between muzzle & target; autopsy exam can substantiate likelihood |
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Term
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Definition
| Area of injury - may preclude possibility of self-infliction; distance from target to muzzle; weapons presence or absence - absence in lieu of serious nature of wound indicating total & immediate cessation of movement, indicative of homicide |
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Term
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Definition
| Basic cartridge - bullet/projectile, powder, primer, cartridge case |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm primer breechface mark |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm headstamp - markings on the bottom of a cartridge case designed for a firearm; usually tells who manufactured the case, caliber & where ammunition originated |
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Term
| Gunshot Wounds - Distant Range |
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Definition
| 1. No powder or soot; 2. Contact/abrasion margin present; 3. Abrasion margin is discolored circle around entrance wound - caused by pushing of skin by bullet on entrance; 4. Directionality - abrasion margin is symmetrical if bullet enters skin from straight-on trajectory |
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Term
| Distant Range Considerations |
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Definition
| Wider abrasion margin at 1 area of entrance wound, closest to direction in which bullet traveled if bullet enters skin at angle |
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Term
| Gunshot Wounds - Intermediate Range |
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Definition
| Hot powder grains accompany bullet to wound site & are driven into skin, leaving small red marks on skin - stippling/tattooing |
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Term
| Gunshot Wounds - Short & Close Range |
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Definition
| Bullet hole, stippling & soot present |
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Term
| Gunshot Wounds - Contact Range |
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Definition
| Bullet hole, muzzle burn mark & impression of firearm present; loose fit - near contact; cornea of soot may be present where weapon not placed directly against skin |
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Term
| Contact Range Considerations |
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Definition
| Contact mark - size of barrel; soot & tattooing may not be present on external visualization of wound; wound - pinkish color; searing of skin at wound site may be visible |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm pressed against skull, gasses rip/tear/split skin - follow less resistant path & leave pattern |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - intermediate range stippling |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - intermediate range stippling |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - close contact range |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - close contact |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - loose contact range, cornea of soot |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - contact mark size of barrel |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - contact w/ stellate pattern, b/c entry over bone |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - pattern from contact wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm - bullet fragments from contact wounds |
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Term
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Definition
| Caused by bullet which touches but does not enter skin |
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Term
| Bullet Fragments from Contact Wounds |
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Definition
| Bullets are made to expand; sometimes fragments come out exit wound |
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Term
| Knockdown Pattern of Bullet |
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Definition
| Slow bullet enters skin, expands & stops perp from aggressing |
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Term
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Definition
| Bullet tumbles, ricochets off other objects & either the side/back of bullet enters body - wounds not symmetrical |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - graze wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - keyhole wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - entry wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - exit wound |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - multiple bullet exit wounds |
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Term
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Definition
| Firearm wound - shotgun wounds |
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Term
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Definition
| Potentially soot, stippling & abrasion margin present |
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Term
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Definition
| Bullet slows down, injury shows characteristics of blunt force trauma larcerations, skin flaps, no clean edges |
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Term
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Definition
| Different patterns than handgun wounds, multiple shots, close together |
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Term
| Primary Focus of Investigation |
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Definition
| 1. Is wound produced by handgun, rifle, shotgun? 2. Is weapon at scene? Type & caliber? 3. # of injuries noted vs. # of shots fired |
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Term
| Investigation at ME's Office |
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Definition
| 1. Identify # and location of wounds; 2. Identify entry & exit wounds; 3. Range of fire - distant, intermediate, close, contact; 4. Trajectory of bullet's path |
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Term
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Definition
| 1. Identify essential info; 2. Identify exact time decedent found, when last known to be alive, describe building/room/place where found; 3. Detail all articles pertaining to incident which are present at scene |
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