Shooting Incident Reconstruction

Front cover......Page 1
Title page......Page 4
Copyright page......Page 5
Table of contents......Page 8
List of Color Plates......Page 14
Introduction......Page 16
Why This Book?......Page 22
Reconstruction—The Ultimate Goal of Criminalistics......Page 23
Basic Skills and Approach to Casework......Page 24
Qualifications......Page 25
The Scientific Method......Page 27
Specific Considerations......Page 30
Concluding Comments......Page 33
References and Further Reading......Page 34
Bullet Design and Construction......Page 36
Hypothetical Case Examples......Page 38
Propellant Morphology......Page 39
Analytical Approach......Page 40
The Worth of Weight......Page 44
Derivation of Sphere Diameter from Weight......Page 46
References and Further Reading......Page 50
The Question of Bullet Holes in Common Materials......Page 52
An Example of a Bullet Hole Issue—Bullet Holes in Wood......Page 54
Considerations and Solution......Page 56
Bullet Holes in Some Typical Materials......Page 57
Bullet Holes in Fabrics and Garments Made of Nylon and Polyester......Page 58
References and Further Reading......Page 60
4 Some Useful Reagents and their Application......Page 62
Dithiooxamide (DTO) Test for Copper Residues......Page 66
Dithiooxamide Procedure for Copper Residues......Page 68
2-NN Procedure for Copper Residues......Page 70
Sodium Rhodizonate Test for Lead Residues......Page 73
Theory......Page 74
Direct Application Methods......Page 75
“Lifting” or Transfer Method......Page 76
Chemistry of the Nickel–DMG Reaction......Page 78
DMG Test Procedure......Page 79
Barrel Residues......Page 80
Summary and Concluding Comments......Page 81
References and Further Reading......Page 83
The Production of Gunshot Residues......Page 84
Target Materials......Page 91
Interpretation and Reporting of Results......Page 92
Revolvers......Page 93
The Modified Griess Test for Nitrite Residues......Page 95
The Preparation of Reagents and Materials......Page 97
Gunshot and Primer Residues on the Hands......Page 98
Summary......Page 100
References and Further Reading......Page 101
Overview......Page 104
Sheetrock/Wallboard......Page 105
Wood......Page 109
Sheet Metal......Page 110
Glass......Page 116
Rubber......Page 132
Summary......Page 134
References and Further Reading......Page 135
Introduction......Page 136
Definitions......Page 137
Some General Principles, Observations, and Comments......Page 141
Factors Controlling or Affecting Projectile Ricochet......Page 142
Projectile Impacts to Hard, Unyielding Surfaces......Page 143
Projectile Impacts to Frangible Materials......Page 149
Projectile Impacts to Semi-Hard or Semi-Yielding Materials......Page 150
Projectile Impacts to Yielding Surfaces......Page 152
The Post-Impact Flight of Ricocheted and Deflected Bullets......Page 157
Gunshot Wounds from Ricocheted and Deflected Bullets......Page 158
Approach to Casework Involving the Issue of Ricochet......Page 160
Perforating Projectiles and Perforated Objects......Page 161
References......Page 164
The Location of the Bullet Hole and Angular Components of the Projectile’s Path......Page 168
The Use of String Lines......Page 169
The Use of Probes and “Trajectory” Rods......Page 170
Procedures—Vertical Angle Determination......Page 171
Procedures—Azimuth Angle Determination......Page 175
Non-Perforating Bullet Paths......Page 180
The Use, Advantages, and Limitations of Lasers......Page 182
Some Thoughts on the Reconstructed Angles......Page 184
Techniques, Tools, and Supplies used in Trajectory Reconstruction......Page 185
Summary and Concluding Comments......Page 186
References and Further Reading......Page 187
9 The Shooting of Motor Vehicles......Page 188
Vehicles at a Scene......Page 189
Frames of Reference and “Squaring the Vehicle”......Page 191
Perforating Projectile Strikes to Vehicles......Page 192
Penetrating Projectile Strikes to Vehicles......Page 195
Ricochet Marks, Graze Marks, and Non-Penetrating Strikes......Page 196
References and Further Reading......Page 197
Introductory Comments......Page 198
Entry and Re-Entry Wounds......Page 200
Shored Gunshot Wounds......Page 201
Projectile Path Determinations for Gunshot Wounds......Page 202
Survivors of Gunshot Wounds......Page 205
Summary and Concluding Comments......Page 206
References and Further Reading......Page 207
Introduction......Page 208
Locard’s Principle Revisited—Some Examples of Trace Evidence Transfers and Deposits......Page 209
Common Examples of Trace Evidence on or Embedded in Recovered Bullets and Applicable Analytical Methods......Page 210
Sequence of Events Through Trace Evidence—Three Case Examples......Page 211
Summary and Concluding Comments......Page 216
References and Further Reading......Page 217
Scene Work—Terrain/Substrate Considerations......Page 218
Relocated Cartridge Cases......Page 220
Firearm—Ammunition Performance......Page 221
Review of Markings on Fired Cartridge Cases......Page 222
Laboratory Examination of Ejected Cartridge Cases......Page 225
General Protocol for Ejection Pattern Testing......Page 226
Additional Considerations......Page 230
Summary and Concluding Comments......Page 232
References and Further Reading......Page 233
Introduction......Page 234
The Basics of Exterior Ballistics and Their Forensic Application......Page 235
Case Situations—An Overview......Page 241
Maximum Range Trajectories......Page 246
Lagtime......Page 248
Bullets from the Sky......Page 250
Summary......Page 253
References and Further Reading......Page 254
Introduction......Page 256
Shotgun Design and Nomenclature......Page 258
Shot Charges and Dram-Equivalents......Page 259
Wads and Shotcups......Page 260
Powder, Gunshot Residue, and Buffer Material......Page 263
The Exterior Ballistics of Shotgun Pellets......Page 264
Summary and Concluding Comments......Page 267
References and Further Reading......Page 268
Explaining What We Do......Page 270
Legal Challenges and the Role of Shooting Incident Reconstruction in Litigation......Page 271
Reports and Report Writing......Page 275
Concluding Comments......Page 285
References and Further Reading......Page 286
Shooting Incident Evaluation and Reconstruction Documents Sought or Requested......Page 288
Materials Checklist for Shooting Scene Examination......Page 289
Vehicle Data, Measurements, and Behavior with Occupants and/or Movement......Page 290
Vehicle Diagrams......Page 291
Logsheet for Projectile Strikes to Vehicles......Page 292
Shooting Reconstruction Checklist......Page 293
Suggested Guidelines for Reconstruction and Reenactment of Shooting Incidents......Page 298
Coat Worksheet......Page 303
Long Sleeved Shirt Worksheet......Page 304
Under Shirt/T-Shirt Worksheet......Page 305
Pants Worksheet......Page 306
Some Cyclic Rates of Fire for Recoil-Operated Semiautomatic Pistols......Page 307
Reference......Page 308
Conversion and Computational Factors......Page 309
Table of Common Bullet Weights......Page 310
Some General Guidelines for Laser Photography......Page 311
Digital Photography of Laser Paths......Page 313
Some Bullet Core and Jacket Weights......Page 314
General Foundational Questions......Page 315
Specific Foundational Questions......Page 316
Glossary......Page 318
Index......Page 358
Color Plates......Page 366