Single Wound Produced by Simultaneous Discharge of Both Shells from a Double-Barrel Shotgun
Medich, MG
Formerly, resident, Butterworth Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI; now, staff physician, Emergency Department, St. Vincents Hospital, Green Bay, WI.

Cohle, SD
Forensic pathologist and pathology assistant, respectively, Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, Grand Rapids, MI.

Burritt, M
Firearms examiner, Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI.

Davison, P
Forensic pathologist and pathology assistant, respectively, Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, Grand Rapids, MI.


Abstract
We present the case of a man who was killed by simultaneous discharge of both barrels of a double-barrel shotgun. Externally, there was a single wound simulating a wound made by a discharge of a single barrel. Test-firing of the shotgun against cloth, paper, and naugahyde targets revealed defects similar in shape to the wound in the victim. Simultaneous discharge of both barrels from a double-barrel shotgun may simulate the wound made by discharge of a single barrel.

Keywords:
ballistics, criminalistics, forensic science, shotguns, wound ballistics

Paper ID: JFS352900473

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Author Medich MG, Cohle SD, Burritt M, Davison P Title Single Wound Produced by Simultaneous Discharge of Both Shells from a Double-Barrel Shotgun Symposium , Committee on