Firearm fatalities in Dammam: A forensic retrospective study

Abstract

Numerous nations have released studies on lethal firearm injuries. Nonetheless, there has been little documentation of their occurrence and pattern in various parts of Saudi Arabia and other Arab Countries. The present study was conducted to investigate fatal firearm injuries in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, during 2013–2023. All investigated victims were referred to the mortuary of the Forensic Medicine Department, Dammam. The study investigated all firearm deaths in Dammam. Most of the victims were Saudi Nationals. Homicidal victims (N = 88) surpassed the suicidal cases (N = 24). Rifled weapons were the most common weapon used in both groups. Head wounds were much more common in suicides (70.8 %) compared to homicides (34.1 %) (p = 0.001). Toxicological findings confirmed more Cannabis in homicide cases and more Ethanol in suicide cases. The current findings were contradictory to the pattern seen in other countries where suicides were the predominant group. • Head wounds were significantly more common in suicides (70.8 %) compared to homicides (34.1 %) (p = 0.001). • Rifled firearms were used in 96.6 % of homicides and 100 % of suicides. • Cannabis use was detected in 71.4 % of homicide cases, but none in suicides (p = 0.001). • Chest wounds were more frequent in homicides (52.3 %) than in suicides (33.3 %). • Suicides occurred predominantly at home (62.5 %), while homicides were more frequent on streets (46.6 %) (p = 0.025, p = 0.001)