10/02/07

Shooting incident reconstruction employs the same principles used for crime scene reconstruction but has the addition of firearms evidence to consider.

When firearms are factored into a crime scene there are a host of things to consider, such as: firearm function, cartridge and bullet characteristics, ejection patterns, distance determination/gunshot residue, impact site characteristics, wound analysis, external and terminal ballistics, various cartridge components - such as pellets, wads, shotcups, etc., and the results of  comparisons of fired components recovered from the scene to suspected firearms.

By taking all of these individual elements and considering them as a whole, it is often possible to determine such things as: where the shots were fired from, if the shooter was static or moving, distance between the shooter and the victim, types of firearms used, type of ammunition used, number of shots fired, if witness/victim/suspect statements are consistent with the evidence.

Click thumbnails for larger images