Multiple suicidal injuries with shotgun slugs.

Shotguns are usually used to fire multiple pellets, but they are capable of firing single projectiles. Shotgun slug injuries are rare, severe, and fully comparable to those inflicted by high-velocity projectiles. A case of gunshot suicide of a 59-year-old man with a shotgun loaded with shotgun slugs is presented. The first two shots were fired into the heart region, but did not hit the vital organs of the victim's thorax and did not cause immediate incapacitation. The man was able to reload and refire. The third shot was fired into the region of right temple; the last shot caused severe cerebrocranial gunshot injury and was fatal. The victim did not pull aside his clothing to expose his skin before shooting into the heart region.