Forensic scientists, law enforcement, and crime scene investigators are often tasked with reconstruction of events based on crime scene evidence, and the subsequent analysis of that evidence. The use and misuse of firearms to perpetrate crimes from theft to murder necessitates numerous invitations to reconstruct shooting incidents. The discharge of firearms and the behavior of projectiles create many forms of physical evidence that, through proper testing and interpretation by a skilled forensic scientist, can establish what did and what did not occur. This book is generated from the authors' numerous years of conducting courses and seminars on the subject of shooting incident reconstruction. It seeks to thoroughly address matters from simple to complex in providing the reader an explanation of the factors surrounding ballistics, trajectory, and shooting scenes. The ultimate objectives of this unique book are to assist investigators, crime scene analysts, pathologists, ballistics experts, and lawyers to understand the terminology, science, and factors involved in reconstructing shooting incident events to solve forensic cases. The book will cover the full range of related topics including the range from which a firearm was discharged, the sequence of shots in a multiple discharge shooting incident, the position of a firearm at the moment of discharge, the position of a victim at the moment of impact, the probable flight path of a projectile, the manner in which a firearm was discharged and much more.
1. Introduction 2. Introduction to First Edition 3. Chapter 1. Case Approach, Philosophy, and Objectives 4. Chapter 2. Working Shooting Scenes 5. Chapter 3. The Reconstructive Aspects of Class Characteristics and a Limited Universe 6. Chapter 4. Is It a Bullet Hole? 7. Chapter 5. Some Useful Reagents and Their Application 8. Chapter 6. Distance and Orientation Derived from Gunshot Residue Patterns 9. Chapter 7. Projectile Penetration and Perforation 10. Chapter 8. Projectiles and Glass 11. Chapter 9. Projectile Ricochet and Deflection 12. Chapter 10. The Principles of “Trajectory” Reconstruction 13. Chapter 11. Determining Bullet Track (“Trajectory”) in Gunshot Victims 14. Chapter 12. Trace Evidence Considerations Associated with Firearms 15. Chapter 13. True Ballistics: Long-Range Shootings and Falling Bullets 16. Chapter 14. Cartridge Case Ejection and Ejection Patterns 17. Chapter 15. The Shooting of Motor Vehicles 18. Chapter 16. Shotgun Shootings and Evidence 19. Chapter 17. Sound Levels of Gunshots, Supersonic Bullets, and Other Impulse Sounds 20. Chapter 18. Ultimate Objectives, Reports, and Court Presentations 21. Appendix 22. Glossary 23. Index
Forensic scientists, law enforcement, and crime scene investigators are often tasked with reconstruction of events based on crime scene evidence, and the subsequent analysis of that evidence. The use and misuse of firearms to perpetrate crimes from theft to murder necessitates numerous invitations to reconstruct shooting incidents. The discharge of firearms and the behavior of projectiles create many forms of physical evidence that, through proper testing and interpretation by a skilled forensic scientist, can establish what did and what did not occur. This book is generated from the authors' numerous years of conducting courses and seminars on the subject of shooting incident reconstruction. It seeks to thoroughly address matters from simple to complex in providing the reader an explanation of the factors surrounding ballistics, trajectory, and shooting scenes. The ultimate objectives of this unique book are to assist investigators, crime scene analysts, pathologists, ballistics experts, and lawyers to understand the terminology, science, and factors involved in reconstructing shooting incident events to solve forensic cases. The book will cover the full range of related topics including the range from which a firearm was discharged, the sequence of shots in a multiple discharge shooting incident, the position of a firearm at the moment of discharge, the position of a victim at the moment of impact, the probable flight path of a projectile, the manner in which a firearm was discharged and much more.
1. Introduction 2. Introduction to First Edition 3. Chapter 1. Case Approach, Philosophy, and Objectives 4. Chapter 2. Working Shooting Scenes 5. Chapter 3. The Reconstructive Aspects of Class Characteristics and a Limited Universe 6. Chapter 4. Is It a Bullet Hole? 7. Chapter 5. Some Useful Reagents and Their Application 8. Chapter 6. Distance and Orientation Derived from Gunshot Residue Patterns 9. Chapter 7. Projectile Penetration and Perforation 10. Chapter 8. Projectiles and Glass 11. Chapter 9. Projectile Ricochet and Deflection 12. Chapter 10. The Principles of “Trajectory” Reconstruction 13. Chapter 11. Determining Bullet Track (“Trajectory”) in Gunshot Victims 14. Chapter 12. Trace Evidence Considerations Associated with Firearms 15. Chapter 13. True Ballistics: Long-Range Shootings and Falling Bullets 16. Chapter 14. Cartridge Case Ejection and Ejection Patterns 17. Chapter 15. The Shooting of Motor Vehicles 18. Chapter 16. Shotgun Shootings and Evidence 19. Chapter 17. Sound Levels of Gunshots, Supersonic Bullets, and Other Impulse Sounds 20. Chapter 18. Ultimate Objectives, Reports, and Court Presentations 21. Appendix 22. Glossary 23. Index
