A CASE OF HOMICIDE WITH A BLANK PISTOL

Blank handguns are specially designed guns that, like true firearms, can produce a bright flash and a loud explosive sound, but they do not propel any projectiles. Although they are considered harmless by the general public, there are reports of serious injuries and even lethal outcomes. We present a homicide case with an unmodified blank pistol as an assault weapon. Two wounds were located on the upper left thigh, one of which involved the femoral artery and vein, resulting in death by blood loss. While the wounds did not resemble typical firearm entry morphology, in-depth gunpowder particles were present. Even without modification, blank handguns possess the potential to inflict fatal injuries and serve as an effective assault weapon. The wide variety of injuries they produce can cause inaccurate identification of the weapon used by an unprepared medical specialist, thereby hindering the investigation.