Fatal, self-inflicted injury caused by a pepper spray gun.

Abstract

Pepper spray guns have gained popularity as self-defense weapons in recent years. Marketed as "less-lethal," these devices are designed to be easy to use, accurate, and capable of deterring assailants without causing permanent harm. We present a case of a 53-year-old man who sustained a fatal injury caused by a JPX6 Jet Protector pepper spray gun. The device was found in close proximity to the body at the scene. External examination revealed a small entry wound and a triangular, burned stretch zone in the right inguinal area. The cause of death was exsanguination due to laceration of the right internal iliac artery (A. iliaca interna dextra). To our knowledge, this is the first documented fatality caused by a JPX6 Jet Protector.Following this incident, we have conducted a series of ballistic soap experiments using the JPX6 to evaluate its potential for skin and soft tissue penetration, especially at distances shorter than the manufacturer's recommended safety distance of 1.5 meters. Our findings confirmed tissue-penetrating capacity at distances as short as point-blank, 10 cm, 20 cm, and 40 cm.We emphasize the potentially lethal capabilities of pepper spray launchers, particularly when used at close range and by untrained individuals, and advocate their recognition as potential weapons of homicide during forensic scene investigation.