Question

On a victim, a circular entrance wound is found with black edges and a stippling

pattern emanating outward from the center. Which most likely caused this wound?
a pistol fired at a close range
a shotgun fired from a distance
a rifle fired from a distance
a shotgun fired at close range

Answer 1

The wound with a circular entrance, black edges, and stippling likely indicates a pistol fired at close range, which is characterized by soot deposition and debris impact from the firearm's discharge.

Step-by-step explanation:

The wound described, with a circular entrance wound, black edges, and a stippling pattern emanating outward, most likely suggests a pistol fired at close range. This type of injury is consistent with the characteristics of an entrance wound created by a bullet from a pistol when discharged near to the victim. The blackening of the edges is indicative of soot deposition, and the stippling (also known as tattooing) is caused by unburned powder particles and debris from the firearm's discharge impacting the skin around the wound.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

The circular entrance wound with black edges and a stippling pattern emanating outward from the center was most likely caused by a pistol fired at close range. The characteristics of the wound, including the circular shape, the black edges, and the stippling pattern, are typical of a contact wound, which is a wound caused by a firearm that is fired at a very close range to the victim's skin. This type of wound is often seen with pistols, which are small, handheld firearms that are often used at close range. In contrast, a shotgun fired from a distance would not produce a circular wound with black edges and stippling, and a rifle fired from a distance would not produce a circular wound at all. A shotgun fired at close range could potentially produce a circular wound, but it would not have the same black edges and stippling pattern as a pistol fired at close range. Therefore, the most likely cause of the wound described in the question is a pistol fired at close range.