A victim is shot with a bullet that ricocheted off a concrete floor before striking him. The resulting entrance wound is irregular and elongated, resembling a keyhole. What is the primary reason for this irregular wound morphology?

• A The bullet fragmented into multiple pieces upon impact with the floor
• B The bullet lost its gyroscopic stability and deformed, striking the body sideways ✓
• C The bullet tumbled backwards, striking the body with its base first
• D The bullet was traveling at supersonic speed, causing a temporary cavity

Explanation

A ricochet bullet strikes a hard surface at a shallow angle, causing it to deform and lose its gyroscopic stability. When it subsequently hits the body, it often strikes sideways or at an oblique angle, producing an irregular, keyhole-like entrance wound. Fragmentation is possible but not the primary cause of the keyhole shape. Tumbling backwards is rare, and supersonic speed causes temporary cavitation, not an irregular entrance wound.

Reference: DiMaio, Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques, 3rd ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.