Shooting Incident Reconstruction

Shooting Incident Reconstruction, Second Edition, offers a thorough explanation of matters from simple to complex to help the reader understand the factors surrounding ballistics, trajectory, and shooting scenes.

Forensic scientists, law enforcement, and crime scene investigators are often tasked with reconstruction of events based on crime scene evidence, along with 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.

Written by the world's most well-respected shooting scene and ballistics experts, the book addresses the terminology, science, and factors involved in reconstructing shooting incident events to solve forensic cases. It covers 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; and the position of a victim at the moment of impact. The probable flight path of a projectile and the manner in which a firearm was discharged are also discussed. Case studies illustrate real-world application of technical concepts, supported by over 200 full-color diagrams and photographs.

This book will be of value to practicing forensic scientists (firearm and toolmark examiners), ballistics experts, crime scene personnel, police departments, forensic consultants (generalists), attorneys and judges, medical examiners (coroners), and forensic pathologists.

• Written by the most well-respected shooting scene and ballistics experts in the world
• Contains over 200 full-color diagrams and photographs that support and illustrate key concepts
• Case studies illustrate real-world application of technical concepts

The audience would include practicing forensic scientists (firearm and toolmark examiners), ballistics experts, crime scene personnel, police departments, forensic consultants (generalists), attorneys and judges, medical examiners (coroners), and forensic pathologists

Dedication

Introduction

Introduction to First Edition

Chapter 1. Case Approach, Philosophy, and Objectives

Chapter 2. Working Shooting Scenes

Chapter 3. The Reconstructive Aspects of Class Characteristics and a Limited Universe

Chapter 4. Is It a Bullet Hole?

Chapter 5. Some Useful Reagents and Their Application

Chapter 6. Distance and Orientation Derived from Gunshot Residue Patterns

Chapter 7. Projectile Penetration and Perforation

Chapter 8. Projectiles and Glass

Chapter 9. Projectile Ricochet and Deflection

Chapter 10. The Principles of “Trajectory” Reconstruction

Chapter 11. Determining Bullet Track (“Trajectory”) in Gunshot Victims

Chapter 12. Trace Evidence Considerations Associated with Firearms

Chapter 13. True Ballistics: Long-Range Shootings and Falling Bullets

Chapter 14. Cartridge Case Ejection and Ejection Patterns

Chapter 15. The Shooting of Motor Vehicles

Chapter 16. Shotgun Shootings and Evidence

Chapter 17. Sound Levels of Gunshots, Supersonic Bullets, and Other Impulse Sounds

Chapter 18. Ultimate Objectives, Reports, and Court Presentations

Appendix

Glossary

Index