Suicide by shotgun - is this possible?

Question

We had a friend kill himself over the weekend. He evidently shot himself with a shotgun. They declared it a suicide because when he was found rigor mortis had set in and the gun was still in his hand. I am hardly a gun expert, it has been years since I have hunted or shot any shotguns or rifles. But I dont understand how he could successfully shoot himself and still have the gun firmly in his hands. (kick back etc) I hate to sound paranoid about it but this just isnt what you would expect of this guy. I talked to him hours before it happened. His girlfriend is kind of a head case - said she never heard a thing, found him in the morning. Our police department is more like Barnie Fife central. Could he really have done this to himself????

Thank you for all of the information. And I am sorry for those of you have experienced suicide first hand. We all still believe it is pretty suspicious but understand that the police have closed the case. The girlfriend is a head case. If she had anything to do with it we all suspect she will break before long. The family has no money etc so they are just letting it go. Lots of unanswered questions, maybe we will never know the entire truth.

Answer 1

I think these people that are answering "yeah, it happens all the time" realize that a shotgun is NOT a small handgun. It has a long barrel and I really find it hard to see how it could "still be in his hand" at the time he found him. You would almost have prop it up with something and push the trigger with the tip of your finger and it couldn't have been done with his toes if they found it in his hand. It makes no sense unless it was sawed off... it sounds more like he was defending himself because this is just too impossible. We have a shotgun here and I just went to look at it and I think your police department needs to do some more investigation.

Answer 2

First of , it is possible. Most commonly, and not to get too graphic, the person will sit, have the barrel in his/her mouth, with the butt of the weapon on the floor. In that position, the trigger is very easy to reach, and is like pulled with the thumb. The recoil of a shotgun will be absorbed by the floor, allowing the weapon to remain in the person's hand.

I don't like to use movies as examples, but in Full Metal Jacket, Private Pyle did it this very fashion.

Concerning an above answer, the lowest guage for a shotgun is the 410. from there, the smaller the number, the bigger the guage. Most common guages are 410, 20,16, and 12. Duck hunters are known to carry 10 guages, but they are not all the common. There is also an 8 guage, but I have actually never known anyone to own one.

Answer 3

Well...yes, the gun could still be in his hand firmly. They probably tested or inspected his hands, arms, for powder burns to determine that it was suicide. When a shotgun goes off, gunpowder comes out in a fine spray out of the side and where the hammer strikes the back of the shell. That spray will lodge into and on whatever is in it's path. Sometimes it can be seen with the naked eye. It's like a black mist. The gun wont necessarily drop from his hands. I am not saying that is the case with your friend, I'm just saying that yes its easily possible... people who kill themselves do not always give warnings or signs. I had a friend who seemed to be pretty average (I hate using the words normal or average when it comes to people) but he gave no sign or indication. I was with him hours before he hung himself in his front yard. (wow) Life is full of surprises. Anyway I am sorry about your friend and I hope I helped a little. Bye

Answer 4

i imagine that once the gun fired his body didn't do much of anything- the kick from the gun would be at the butt of the stock, not the trigger. so if he braced it on the floor or wall, or even his other hand, he could very well have held on to the trigger.

but, that being said, i have heard of some "suicide" cases where the police made a quick ruling and then it was later determined impossible to have occurred as they said. In one of these cases, the police claimed a woman used her toe to fire a shotgun and kill herself. it was later found that her husband actually committed the crime, to which he confessed.
so, you never know

Answer 5

Suicide by shotgun is very difficult, but not impossible; but there must be a stable place to steady the gun while pulling the trigger or the gun will go flying off the hand due to kickback/recoil. I think you might want to get a professional to investigate, rather than the Barney Fife Squad! Also sounds like the girlfriend might have some more info, like why she did it.

Answer 6

It's possible to kill yourself with a shotgun, but I think your question is more of if you committ suicide will the gun still be in your hand. What type of shotgun did he use because some have more of a boom (can't think of the word right now) after than others.

I do think this story sounds a bit fishy though. Sorry about your loss.

Answer 7

Yes it can be done and has.You can kill yourself with a 22 just as long as you know where to point.If you hit the right spot and the gun is held right you have time to keep a firm grip on the gun and still hold it or keep it propped to make sure it stays in your hand.It has to do with the nerve damage caused by the shot.If you don't know what your doing you can actually survive a gunshot to the head.All it takes is a little movement to the left or right and you have survived the blow.

Answer 8

Still in his hand does sound suspicious. I'd want to know exactly how he was holding the gun, that he didn't drop it, or have the recoil jerk it out of his hand.

The only case I personally know of where a guy committed suicide with a shotgun, he propped it up on a chair, and used a stick to pull (push, actually) the trigger.

Answer 9

Need more information. Was he shot in the head. If so, It would be impossible for the gun to still be firmly in his hand. how was he gripping the shotgun. You cant aim a shotgun at your head and grip it like you normally would with all fingers and the palm of your hand. It's too long.

You're not paranoid. It sound fishy to me too.

Answer 10

Yes. It is possible.
To fully find out the truth, you may have to do deep study and research. Try to see if you can find any other cases of suicide by a shotgun. I am sorry for your loss, I lost a best friend/a brother five years ago to suicide.