Fatal suicidal gun shot injury

Gunshot injury generally gives an impression of assault, although cases of suicides as well as accidents resulting from gunshot trauma have been reported in literature. Here a case is presented wherein a young healthy middle aged male was found dead on the driving seat of his own vehicle outside a bar. A revolver was found nearby and his skull showed evidence of entry and exit wound of a firearm with findings suggestive of contact shot. Deceased was a rich businessman who came out for drinks along with his friends. His friends were now missing from the scene and license of revolver was untraceable. All evidences pointed towards murder but thorough investigations by police and autopsy findings confirmed it to be suicide. Deceased was suffering from bipolar disorder and apparently shot himself during the outburst using his own unlicensed revolver. This case suggests the importance of psychiatric evaluation and psychological autopsy in cases of alleged homicides and suicides.