GUNSHOT INJURY: THE ROLE AND PLACE IN THE STRUCTURE OF VIOLENT DEATH, FORENSIC DESCRIPTION OF LETHAL CASES IN THE CITY OF MINSK FOR THE PERIOD 2009-2018

The article sets out the main historical milestones in the development of forensic ballistics, summarizes the literature on the incidence of lethal gunshot injuries in the world, and presents the results of our own study of deaths from gunshot injuries in Minsk from 2009 to 2018. Medical and social laws have been established on the basis of which the forensic medical characteristic of a fatal gunshot injury, compiled average statistical “portraits” of those killed as a result of this type of violent death have been drawn up. Analysis of the results of the study allows us to come to the following conclusions: – the results of statistical reports and scientific literature indicate a high level of occurrence of fatal injuries in the structure of violent death in the world, is one of the main areas studied by forensic science and practice in the study of gunshot injuries; – on the basis of a retrospective study, this forensic medical characteristic of a fatal gunshot injury in Minsk for the period from January 01, 2009 to December 31, 2018. It includes the type of death, gender, age, time of year, time of day, district of the city, place of causing gunshot injuries, presence ethyl alcohol, the place of death, the type of weapon, the type of ammunition, the type and location of the wound; – the average “portraits” of people who died in Minsk in 2009-2018 were compiled because of this type of violent death. In the “Expert Conclusion” and the decisions on the appointment of forensic medical examinations for the studied period, information about the possible ricocheting nature of the gunshot injuries was not found. This may be due to the lack of methods for establishing the fact and parameters of the ricochet of the gunshot and testifies to the need for further experimental studies in areas of forensic ballistics.