How bodies react to head shots

[Guest Mark Valenti]

There has been an enormous amount written about the JFK head shot, along with countless close-ups, moving gif files, slow-motion, blood-splatter investigations, etc. etc.

Contrary to what Dan Rather told the public after viewing the Z film, it was apparent that JFK's body did indeed go "back and to the left."

But the better-quality images, especially in close-up, do indicate a slight forward motion to JFK's head prior to his body hurling backward. I was curious about what actually happens to bodies when the head is molested by gunfire.

In this age of Googling, I found a web site that has quite a number of video clips of actual head shots. This is sickening stuff and I only watched a few before vowing to never do so again.

But it was interesting for the varying degrees of movement and reactions exhibited by the gunshot victims.

One poor guy, a sad victim of Middle Eastern kidnappers, who was shot point-blank in the head. He actually "jumped" straight up as he was hit, rather than falling away as one might expect. His head never did push forward in the direction the bullet was traveling.

Another victim received a shot in the head but didn't react at all from the force of the bullet. Rather, he simply collapsed on the ground.

In the few instances I had the stomach to observe, I never did see any of them react violently to the shot as I would have expected. Nobody's head snapped, the bodies didn't blast in the direction of the shot. It was not at all like the movies. But as I say, I stopped watching after just a few. There may be more that supports the theory that a head shot would cause the head to flash forward.

I don't recommend this site as anything other than a last-resort type of research tool, it features violence as pornography and it's kind of astonishing that such a thing exists. But then again, I went looking for it and used it, so I take some measure of responsibility as well.

For anyone who's interested in exploring this decidedly gruesome topic, the site is ogrish.com - you'll have to find your own way to the videos, I was moving too quickly to pay close attention.

MV

[John Hunt]

Mark,

I'm curious to know if website you referred to is the same one I know of that has the same type of content.

If you care to, drop me a line at johnh01REMOVE@verizon.net

John Hunt

There has been an enormous amount written about the JFK head shot, along with countless close-ups, moving gif files, slow-motion, blood-splatter investigations, etc. etc.

Contrary to what Dan Rather told the public after viewing the Z film, it was apparent that JFK's body did indeed go "back and to the left."

But the better-quality images, especially in close-up, do indicate a slight forward motion to JFK's head prior to his body hurling backward. I was curious about what actually happens to bodies when the head is molested by gunfire.

In this age of Googling, I found a web site that has quite a number of video clips of actual head shots. This is sickening stuff and I only watched a few before vowing to never do so again.

But it was interesting for the varying degrees of movement and reactions exhibited by the gunshot victims.

One poor guy, a sad victim of Middle Eastern kidnappers, who was shot point-blank in the head. He actually "jumped" straight up as he was hit, rather than falling away as one might expect. His head never did push forward in the direction the bullet was traveling.

Another victim received a shot in the head but didn't react at all from the force of the bullet. Rather, he simply collapsed on the ground.

In the few instances I had the stomach to observe, I never did see any of them react violently to the shot as I would have expected. Nobody's head snapped, the bodies didn't blast in the direction of the shot. It was not at all like the movies. But as I say, I stopped watching after just a few. There may be more that supports the theory that a head shot would cause the head to flash forward.

I don't recommend this site as anything other than a last-resort type of research tool, it features violence as pornography and it's kind of astonishing that such a thing exists. But then again, I went looking for it and used it, so I take some measure of responsibility as well.

For anyone who's interested in exploring this decidedly gruesome topic, the site is ogrish.com - you'll have to find your own way to the videos, I was moving too quickly to pay close attention.

MV

[Michael Hogan]

I'm curious to know if website you referred to is the same one I know of that has the same type of content.

The answer may be in Mark's last paragraph.

[Pat Speer]

There has been an enormous amount written about the JFK head shot, along with countless close-ups, moving gif files, slow-motion, blood-splatter investigations, etc. etc.

Contrary to what Dan Rather told the public after viewing the Z film, it was apparent that JFK's body did indeed go "back and to the left."

But the better-quality images, especially in close-up, do indicate a slight forward motion to JFK's head prior to his body hurling backward. I was curious about what actually happens to bodies when the head is molested by gunfire.

In this age of Googling, I found a web site that has quite a number of video clips of actual head shots. This is sickening stuff and I only watched a few before vowing to never do so again.

But it was interesting for the varying degrees of movement and reactions exhibited by the gunshot victims.

One poor guy, a sad victim of Middle Eastern kidnappers, who was shot point-blank in the head. He actually "jumped" straight up as he was hit, rather than falling away as one might expect. His head never did push forward in the direction the bullet was traveling.

Another victim received a shot in the head but didn't react at all from the force of the bullet. Rather, he simply collapsed on the ground.

In the few instances I had the stomach to observe, I never did see any of them react violently to the shot as I would have expected. Nobody's head snapped, the bodies didn't blast in the direction of the shot. It was not at all like the movies. But as I say, I stopped watching after just a few. There may be more that supports the theory that a head shot would cause the head to flash forward.

I don't recommend this site as anything other than a last-resort type of research tool, it features violence as pornography and it's kind of astonishing that such a thing exists. But then again, I went looking for it and used it, so I take some measure of responsibility as well.

For anyone who's interested in exploring this decidedly gruesome topic, the site is ogrish.com - you'll have to find your own way to the videos, I was moving too quickly to pay close attention.

MV

Mark, I did quite a bit of reading on this topic and found that Kennedy's head wound was most likely a "slap wound" or "gutter wound," whereby a bullet imparts all its energy to one side of the skull, forcing the skull to twist in the opposite direction. This confirmed my study of the autopsy photos, x-rays, Zapruder film, and trajectories. The fatal head shot did not strike Kennedy on the back of the head, but at the supposed exit. Almost certainly from behind. Much of my work is in the link below.

[Guest Mark Valenti]

Mark, I did quite a bit of reading on this topic and found that Kennedy's head wound was most likely a "slap wound" or "gutter wound," whereby a bullet imparts all its energy to one side of the skull, forcing the skull to twist in the opposite direction. This confirmed my study of the autopsy photos, x-rays, Zapruder film, and trajectories. The fatal head shot did not strike Kennedy on the back of the head, but at the supposed exit. Almost certainly from behind. Much of my work is in the link below.

Thanks, Pat. I knew somebody would have info on this.

MV

[Al Carrier]

Mark, I did quite a bit of reading on this topic and found that Kennedy's head wound was most likely a "slap wound" or "gutter wound," whereby a bullet imparts all its energy to one side of the skull, forcing the skull to twist in the opposite direction. This confirmed my study of the autopsy photos, x-rays, Zapruder film, and trajectories. The fatal head shot did not strike Kennedy on the back of the head, but at the supposed exit. Almost certainly from behind. Much of my work is in the link below.

Thanks, Pat. I knew somebody would have info on this.

MV

Mark,

A few things to keep in mind when dealing internal ballistics;

In studying this, we must seperate low to high velocity projectiles, handgun being under 1800 fps and rifle being 1800fps +. These levels of velocity have a considerably different effect within a cavity and how it absorbes and creates a varying wound cavity and dispersion of energy within and with the ultimate exit.

Another issue that has to be consider along with this is the position of the body and the receptacle (the head in this case). JFK's head was leaning downward and the impact of the frontal entrance of the higher velocity projectile transferred the initial energy into the spine and down the trunk that was braced against the seat. This caused the head to initially move downward until the dispersion of energy travelled through the cavity and exited out the back, at a right to left angle. It would then snap the hinged head and cause the body to follow the flow of energy.

I have posted on this numerous times and Bill Miller has put it in simpler terms. Sherry can elaberate further and I would ask her to do so.

Al

[John Dolva]

Other factors would be weight of bullet, shape of bullet, attack of bullet at strike.

Also the 'receptacle' in this instance is a closed system with a hard thick shell. It's mounted on a multiple hinged column. Where the bullet strikes is important. A tangential strike above or below centre of gravity. A strike with the brain behind the outer shell or tangential with a wall of shell on one side and brain on other.

Plus to some extent the momentum of the receptacle at strike. The head being lighter would be much more affected than the body itself. The body depending again on location of strike can react with neural spasms. Which spasm to some extent depends on location of strike as various body parts are controlled by various brain parts.

Edited September 9, 2006 by John Dolva

[Bill Miller]

Another issue that has to be consider along with this is the position of the body and the receptacle (the head in this case). JFK's head was leaning downward and the impact of the frontal entrance of the higher velocity projectile transferred the initial energy into the spine and down the trunk that was braced against the seat. This caused the head to initially move downward until the dispersion of energy travelled through the cavity and exited out the back, at a right to left angle. It would then snap the hinged head and cause the body to follow the flow of energy.