Topic 4 - Shooting Scene Reconstruction

Reconstruction

"the process of utilising information derived from physical evidence at the scene, analyses of physical evidence and conclusions drawn from such analyses to test various theories of the occurrence of prior events".

Re-enactment

"a demonstration of a previously existing reconstruction based on conjecture (a guess) rather than scientific principle"

Why Shooting Reconstruction?

  • Who, what when, where how and why?

Component factors:

  • trajectories
  • distances
  • cartridge case ejections
  • ricochets (rebound off a surface)
  • Provide a range of possible positions for shooter and victim to "paint the picture" of prior events.
  • To corroborate (confirm) or dismiss claims about a shooting for the courts.

To confirm a shooting actually took place:

  • bullet holes do not count, how do you know its a bullet hole?
  • do you have definite evidence of a firearm being used? Without it is a suspected shooting.

Impact

-Bullet remains intact:

  • passes through, identifiable entry and exit holes.
  • does not pass through, entry hole but no exit hole.

-Bullet does not remain intact:

  • some/all fragments retained in body or pass through.

-Bullet bounces off either intact or fragmented.

'Bullet' Holes

Indicators for use of firearm:

  • bullets or cartridges.
  • GSR (close range only)
  • wipe ring around hole
  • size and shape of hole
  • evidence of high energy penetration
  • damage highly local to hole, depends on material.

Metals:

  • neat entry hole
  • exit hole: truncated funnel
  • wipe ring on inside of funnel

Length of funnel depends on:

  • caliber
  • projectile velocity
  • metal characteristics (too think = dent)
  • bullet contruction

Wood and frangible/fragile materials:

  • neat entry hole
  • exit side: splintered, distributed debris
  • soft wood splinters less than hard wood (oak)
  • low velocity, large caliber = significant splintering on exit side
  • high velocity, small caliber = neater hole

Glass:

  • radiating cracks will not propagate (grow) across an existing crack, thus can determine order of impact of the bullet holes.
  • high velocity bullets: neat holes, little fracturing
  • low velocity bullets: more damage

Fabrics:

  • if aligned with wound, follow track

If not:

  • Synthetic fibres: microscope examination at edge of hole will show evidence of individual fibres melting, resulting from the momentary frictional heating caused by the bullet.
  • Natural fibres: microscope examination will reveal fibres with shredded and frayed ends around the hole.

Evidence from Firearm and Shooter:

  • flash burns on user and target
  • GSR on shooter and target
  • burns to fabrics and flammable surfaces
  • imprints and impressions
  • ricochet damage
  • bullet/fragment wounds
  • debris wounds
  • hearing damage

Evidence Seen with
Inexperience Shooters

Slide Bite:
Recoiling slide on a SLP cuts the web between thumb and index finger on the hand holding the weapon, from mishandling the weapon.

Scope Bite:
Scope is designed to allow for recoil and inexperienced users do not know this, so when firing the scope hits them in the face due to recoil, leaving a crescent shaped mark.

Hammer Bite:
SLPs with external hammer can pinch the web between the thumb and fingers. The mark can be matched to a specific hammer. Can also be DNA.

Recoil Marks:
Rifles and shotguns will imprint on the shoulder and upper arm.
Handguns may imprint grip pattern on hand and wed of hand.

Sketches of the incident scene and trajectories .

Shooter placement:

  • eye witness accounts
  • bullet trajectories
  • GSR
  • Cartridge ejection patters (if at scene)

Impact angle:

sin(A) = width / length
SOH
Or and inclanometer with
trajectory rods

Ricochet:
"the change in angle and/or direction of a projectile resulting from substrate contact."
V-shape left by lead/lead-nosed bullets.
Fracture lines left on painted surfaces.
Bullets can deform upon impact.
Bullets expand and spread and widen as they scrape across surface.
Ricochet angle can aid in determining shooter position. (suspects height, dominant hand, weapon position).
Direction of twist is directly related to the side of the ricochet mark that the tail sits and also any lateral deflection observed.

GSR

Can give muzzle to target distances (humane tissue markings).

Particulate: lift with acetate sheets or SEM stubs.
Precipitate: swab with distilled water and/or ethanol.

For Distribution Pattern:
Test suspect firearm with matching ammunition to recreate deposition pattern. This can reveal data: range and angle of shot.

Patterns:
Hot GSR particles travelling quickly can penetrate and produce bruising and/or burning on the skin. This marking is called tattooing and is a series of dark spots around the entry wound (60 cm or less). Density of tattooing is a fair indication of muzzle-to-target distance and can be compared with lab testing.

Cartridges

Typical Marks:

  • chamber marks
  • firing pin impression
  • chamber marks
  • extractor marks
  • ejection port dent

Cartridge Case comparison:

  • Test sample needed for comparison.
  • Photographic evidence

Ejection Patterns Depends On:

  • weapon design and condition
  • ammo type
  • position held when fired
  • movement/recoil
  • floor type - bouncing
  • obstacles i.e. walls

Wound Morphology:
Entry -

  • bullet wipe (residue from barrel on bullet )
  • abrasion rings (close range < 6")
  • smaller hole
  • skull: inwards bevelling
  • star pattern (stellate) tissue disruption
  • long range shot distance cannot be determined. Shape of wound depends on impact angle.

Exit -

  • larger bullet hole
  • skull: outwards bevelling
  • material projected outwards.

Dense tissue will suffer more damage than hollow tissue - bone vs lung.
Elastic tissue will suffer less damage than rigid tissue - muscle vs liver.
Bone will suffer more damage than organ (hollow tissue) as it is more dense, alters projectile path.