Korean J Leg Med.  2012 Nov;36(2):174-177. 10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.2.174.

A Case Report of Suicide with a Homemade Handgun (Plastic Model Gun)

• Lee JY
• Goo JH
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2305477
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.2.174

Abstract

Unlike the United States, cases of firearm suicides in Korea are rare and are usually limited to military soldiers and policemen. In addition, there is no case report of a suicide by a homemade handgun in Korea. The present victim was a 24-year-old soldier with a fascination for firearms. He had a history of depression and social phobia during his military service. He constructed a homemade handgun from a plastic model gun, also known as a BB gun. During the vacations, he committed suicide with the homemade gun, which caused a penetrating gunshot wound to his chest. The structure and ammunition of the homemade handgun is demonstrated in this report. We have also discussed a few details of the forensic investigation and evaluation of the homemade handgun fatality.

Keyword

suicide; homemade; handgun; military

MeSH Terms

Depression
Firearms
Humans
Korea
Military Personnel
Plastics
Phobic Disorders
Suicide
Thorax
United States
Wounds, Gunshot
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The inverted U shaped muzzle imprint surrounds the entrance wound, which is located in the medial side of the left nipple.

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  Fig. 2 The homemade handgun shows fully loaded state. The loading and cocking system is added at the muzzle of the original plastic model gun (so called BB gun).

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  Fig. 3 The homemade handgun is opened to demonstrate the loading and cocking system.

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  Fig. 4 The projectile recovered from the body (upper) is similar with that of unfired cartridge case (below).

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  Fig. 5 The gunpowder obtained in the cartridge case shows high peak of Cl and K elements.

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  Fig. 6 The gunpowder obtained in upper shirt shows high peak of Cl and K elements same with cartridge case.

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