Suicide by an improvised firearm, firecracker powder and a homemade, lathe-turned projectile: a case report

Introduction: In Sri Lanka, most suicides are by hanging or poisoning, with firearm-related deaths being rare due to the regulation of the ownership through the “Firearm Ordinance”. Yet, improvised weapons may occasionally be used by individuals with technical skills who attempt to replicate firearm mechanisms. Black powder, easily obtained from firecrackers, once confined inside a metal tube, produces enough pressure to drive a projectile with surprising force. This case report describes an improvised firearm, propellant, and projectile used in a suicidal shooting and underlines the value of recognizing non-conventional gunshot injuries in forensic work.
Case Presentation: A middle-aged man was found dead in his lathe workshop, lying on the back. He had a large wound on the right side of his head and a smaller wound on the left. A set of steel tubes clamped into a vice, a loose metallic projectile nearby, and a cigarette lighter in his hand suggested that he had constructed and used a homemade gun. The workshop also contained several handmade bullets and steel sheets marked by projectile impacts, indicating repeated experimentation. At autopsy, the right-sided wound showed blackening and burning typical of a contact discharge, while the left side showed a smaller exit wound. The skull was shattered with inward beveling at the entry and outward beveling at the exit, and the brain was extensively damaged. Calculations showed that about 72 g of black powder could generate roughly 216 kJ of energy, enough to propel a small projectile at speeds comparable to modern firearms. Death was certified as cranio-cerebral injuries caused by a metallic projectile traveling through the head.
Conclusion: This case demonstrates that even firecracker powder, when confined, can act as a lethal propellant. The resulting wounds were indistinguishable from those caused by regular firearms. Forensic specialists should therefore consider the possibility of improvised weapons, especially in places where conventional firearms are scarce but pyrotechnic material is readily accessible.