[hermantheshocker]

Virginia, United States. Police were called to a home for a welfare check due to disturbing text messages. The decedent, a 26-year-old white male, was found on his bedroom floor by the foot of the bed; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The decedent was seated in a partially cross-legged position, hunched to his right, over blood pooled on the carpet. A pair of earbuds was lying across his lap; a 0.45 caliber handgun lay with the muzzle resting on his ankle. Near the body was a cell phone, a laptop open to a blank screen, a spent shell casing, a cartridge, an empty bottle of whiskey, a can of alcoholic seltzer, and an empty glass atop a notebook with writing.


Fig.1 Scene photograph demonstrating body position including weapon, earbuds in the lap, written notes, and alcohol containers.

The police described the scene to be without evidence of struggle or foul play. Blood on the body was dry. There was a single gunshot wound to the bridge of the decedent’s nose, and a second wound noted in the back of the head. A hole was present in the ceiling fan blade, which aligned with holes in the ceiling and roof. The investigating agency declined to retrieve the bullet to preclude further damage to the dwelling.


Fig.2 Close-range entrance wound with a 3 cm oval of soot and 7 x 6 cm oval of stippling.

Although the decedent had no medical diagnosis of depression, he had previously talked about suicide and may have been seeking help for depressive symptoms, as a card with mental health contact information was affixed to the refrigerator. Previously, he was known to become agitated whenever his mother left town, as was the situation at the time of his death. Multiple handwritten notes stating his intent to die were found at the scene, and he had left text messages to family stating, “Nothing is working.”

External examination at forensic autopsy revealed a normally developed, slender male appearing his stated age. A gunshot wound with an abrasion collar and skin splits was observed in the midline of the nasal bridge; there was no muzzle imprint. Soot and stippling surrounded it, consistent with a close-range entrance wound. Soot was more prominent across the glabella than across the nasal tip. Right periorbital ecchymosis was noted. A stellate deformation of the occipital scalp was consistent with an exit wound. Inspection of the hands revealed no evidence of defensive injuries; blood spatter was present, with no blood present on the central palm of each hand.


Fig.3 Exit gunshot wound, after shaving surrounding scalp hair.

The bullet entered the skull through the nasal bones and both choanae, accessing the cranial vault through the sphenoid bone inferior to the pituitary sella and optic chiasm. It perforated the brainstem and cerebellum, causing superficial damage to the occipital lobes, and exited the skull through the left occipital bone near the midline.

Police obtained gunshot residue test swabs at the scene from the hands of the decedent; the result was positive. Postmortem alcohol testing identified a blood alcohol level of 0.150% by weight by volume, and a vitreous humor alcohol level of 0.180% by weight by volume.


Fig.4 Trajectory rod in skull.

In the United States, suicide is most often completed by the use of a firearm; the most common location is the head, followed by the chest, then the abdomen. Multiple studies have investigated the location of self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head. In a Turkish study reported in 2007, among gunshots to the head, the right side of the cranium was the most common, followed by the forehead and then underneath the chin. In a more recent American study discussing facial gunshot wounds (excluding the temples), it was noted the most common areas were submental followed by intraoral.

Although this case demonstrates many common attributes of suicide as documented in previous studies, including suicidal ideation, alcohol consumption, and written notes, it differs in its range of fire and its unusual location; a close-range suicidal gunshot wound through the nasal bridge has not been previously reported. Homicide was given consideration, but the manner of death was deemed suicide due to the combination of the autopsy findings, circumstances, and scene observations.

The forehead has been documented as a common entry site for hard contact gunshot wounds, and this may have been the decedent’s target. If he bent forward in the seated position to place the muzzle to his forehead, it is possible that his intoxicated state may have impaired his coordination, leading to premature, close-range discharge of the weapon into his nasal bridge. The scene trajectory through the ceiling fan, the pattern of soot across the glabella with stippling to the nasal tip, and the trajectory determined by the autopsy, supports this speculation.

Although this is an unusual location for a suicidal gunshot wound, investigation, scene, and autopsy evidence support a manner of suicide.

-

This post is for educational purposes only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. OP is not a medical expert. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence/harassment. Images might have been upscaled and enhanced. Text might have been shortened and simplified/reorganized for online view.

[trean362]

pretty effective

[bagpuss]

Not as messy as I imagined

[LittleNightmare]

I've never seen a gunshot through the nose before, nice one

[cardsharksam]

Thank you ������

[gimlet]

.45 for the win!

[lunikov]

ok, it's effective

[jayphillbrooks]

Should have just gotten a covid swab. Might as get a bullet through the nose as painful as that shit be.

[stowwers]

Now he got 3 nostrils.

[KillerBee370]

Yup... lead makes you dead