Citation

Guérant M, Vaz MA, Peoc'h M, Gaillard Y, Boyer B. Leg. Med. (Elsevier) 2018; 32: 52-56.

Affiliation

Service de Médecine Légale, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, 58 rue Montalembert, 63003 Clermont Ferrand, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Japanese Society of Legal Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.legalmed.2018.02.009

PMID

29523001

Abstract

Rubber bullets weapons can have tragic consequences when used at short range and on vulnerable body areas. A man in his forties was found deceased at his house, covered in blood. A "non-lethal" firearm was found near the bed: the "SAPL GC27". This is a single shot handgun with mini Gomm Cogne ammunition: 12 rubber spherical pellets, 7.4 mm in diameter. The findings were consistent with an intra buccal shot, and an ingestion-inhalation of blood and projectiles. Cause of the death was linked to both the hemorrhage due to mouth and aero digestive crossroad trauma, responsible of a mechanical asphyxia, and blood absorption in lungs. This case insists on the deadly potential of this weapon if misused. Fortunately, the term "non-lethal" has been progressively replaced, but sometimes still can be seen, especially in gunsmith and webstores. It should be deleted to avoid confusion among inexperienced people, and at best, this weapon should be restricted to certain professions.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Firearm; Gomm Cogne; Non-lethal; Rubber bullets; Suicide