Accidental Deaths Involving Derringer Handguns: A Report of Three Cases
McKinney, CD
Medical student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.

Brinkhous, WK
Medical examiner specialist, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina.Chapel Hill, NC.

Butts, JD
Chief medical examiner, State of North Carolina, and associate professor of pathology, Universityof North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.


Abstract
Accidental deaths due to discharge of dropped handguns have been previously reported. In this report, the authors review the history and design of the derringer handgun and describe three cases of accidental death due to discharge of derringer-type handguns. In two of these cases, the gun was dropped, resulting in a fatal discharge. The design of the derringer and the absence of a safety feature are cited as underlying factors. If the alleged weapon can be obtained, testing may demonstrate that discharge could occur if the gun were dropped.

Keywords:
ballistics, criminalistics, death, forensic science

Paper ID: JFS353900730

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Author McKinney CD, Brinkhous WK, Butts JD Title Accidental Deaths Involving Derringer Handguns: A Report of Three Cases Symposium , Committee on