| Whenever a shooting occurs and police are called to | | | | the entrance wound. |
| investigate a dead body as a result of the shooting, | | | | - If the muzzle was between six (6) inches and two |
| crime scene investigators (CSI's) will come to process | | | | (2) feet from the point of entry, the skin may have |
| the scene. The medical examiner will then determine | | | | a tattooed, or spotted, appearance. This tattooed |
| where the bullet entered; if possible, where it exited; | | | | appearance is the result when tiny particles of |
| and what caliber bullet, or bullet diameter, was used | | | | gunpowder discharged from the muzzle embed |
| to kill the victim. | | | | themselves in the skin, producing tiny red dots of |
| In this article, I will define what entry and exit | | | | blood inside the skin in a speckled pattern around the |
| wounds are and what the characteristics are that | | | | wound. |
| make up an entry wound. | | | | - If the muzzle was less than six (6) inches from the |
| When a bullet enters a person, it leaves behind what | | | | victim, the gunshot produces a hole, a small area of |
| is called an entry wound. However, that bullet will not | | | | spotting, an encircling area of charring, and a bright |
| necessarily leave another hole called an exit wound | | | | red color to the wounded tissues. |
| when the bullet exits the body. Often times, the | | | | - If the muzzle is pressed against the victim when |
| bullet stays inside the victim's body. When evaluating | | | | the gun is discharged, hot gases and tiny particles are |
| gunshot wounds, a medical examiner looks for entry | | | | driven right into the skin, producing greater charring |
| and exit wounds and tries to find any bullets still | | | | and ripping the skin in a star-like, or stellate, pattern. |
| lodged inside the victim. Even though the distinction is | | | | In general, exit wounds typically are larger in size than |
| not always evident, the medical examiner also tries | | | | entry wounds because of the fact that the bullet |
| to determine the difference between entry and exit | | | | cuts or tears the soft tissues as it forces its way up |
| wounds, because doing so can be crucial in rebuilding | | | | and out through the skin. The size and shape of the |
| the scene of a crime. Knowing the trajectory, or | | | | exit wound depend on the caliber, speed, and shape |
| path, of a bullet can incriminate or exculpate suspects | | | | of the bullet. For example, soft lead bullets are easily |
| or help determine which projectile caused the mortal | | | | misshapened as they enter and pass through the |
| wound. | | | | body, especially if they hit any bony structures along |
| The characteristics of a bullet wound are a function | | | | the way. When that occurs, the bullet may became |
| of several factors: | | | | grossly deformed, which, in turn, produces more |
| - The distance between the muzzle, or end of a | | | | extensive tissue damage in its wake and many times |
| gun's barrel, of the gun and the victim. | | | | results in an irregular, gaping exit wound. |
| - The caliber, or diameter, and velocity of the bullet. | | | | Determining the difference between entry wounds |
| - The angle at which the projectile enters the body. | | | | and exit wounds is not always simple for the medical |
| - Whether the bullet stays inside the victim or passes | | | | examiner, especially when the exit wound is shored. |
| through, leaving, or exiting, the body. Hence the | | | | Shored refers to when clothing or some other |
| term, through-and-through gunshot wound. | | | | material provides support to the wound. The ragged |
| A medical examiner can determine the distance from | | | | attribute of many exit wounds is caused by the bullet |
| which a single projectile was fired by examining | | | | tearing its way through the skin. However, if the |
| closely the bullet's point of entry. The characteristics | | | | victim's skin is supported by tight clothing or the |
| of those entries are as follows: | | | | victim is against a wall or other structure, the skin is |
| - If the muzzle was two (2) or more feet away | | | | less likely to tear. The exit wound therefore will be |
| from the victim, the entrance wound ordinarily is a | | | | smaller and less ragged. It will take on the |
| small hole, accompanied by an abrasion collar. An | | | | resemblance of an entry wound. |
| abrasion collar is a blue-black bruising effect in a halo | | | | The next time you watch NCIS or your favorite CSI |
| surrounding the entrance wound. Some black soot | | | | TV program, you will be better knowledgeable about |
| may be left behind on the skin when the skin literally | | | | the terminologies used when criminalists investigate a |
| wipes the bullet clean as it passes into the victim at | | | | gunshot victim. |