Table of Contents

Theory and Practice of Shooting
Reconstruction
§ Shooting Reconstruction and the Scientific Method
§ On-Scene Evidence: Evaluation and Documentation
§ Off-Scene Evaluation and Investigation
§ Goal of Shooting Reconstruction
§ Limitations of Shooting Reconstruction
§ Reenactment as Part of Reconstructing Shooting Incidents
§ Developing Time Lines
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Mathematics of Shooting Reconstruction
§ Trigonometry, Geometry, and Shooting Incident Analysis
§ Calculation of Impact Angles
§ Other Calculations
§ Distorted Bullet Base Measurements
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Firearms and Ammunition Components
§ Firearms Categories and Nomenclature
§ Ammunition Components
§ Scene Documentation of Weapons
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Shooting Reconstruction Equipment and Use
§ Documentation of Bullet Holes at Shooting Scenes
§ Trajectory Rods and Use at Shooting Scenes
§ Bullet Hole Basics
§ Types of Trajectory Rods
§ Trajectory Rod Accessories
§ Other Required Equipment
§ Substrate Considerations
§ Proper Trajectory Rod Placement
§ Uneven, Curved Surfaces
§ Rod Extension via Laser
§ Use of Lasers without Trajectory Rods
§ Proper Examination and Documentation
§ Key Points to Remember
§ Tripod-Mounted Lasers
§ Total Data Stations
§ Chronographs
§ Specialized Equipment for Shooting Reconstruction
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Cartridge Case Ejection Pattern Testing
§ Testing Considerations
§ Methodology
§ Interpretation of Results
§ Problems
§ Suggested Readings

Shot Pattern Analysis and Testing
§ Approximating Muzzle-to-Target Distance
§ Angle of Impact Estimation
§ Test Firing
§ Graphical Analysis
§ Shot Shell Buffer and Distance Estimation
§ Reporting of Results
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Examination and Testing of Weapons
and Ammunition Components
§ Trace Evidence Examination
§ Function Testing
§ Accuracy Determination
§ Rate of Fire Determination
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Gunshot Residue Testing
§ Gunshot Residue Sources
§ Primer Residues and Shooter Determination
§ Particles Considered "Characteristic" of GSR
§ Particles Considered "Unique" to GSR
§ Muzzle-to-Target Distance Approximation Testing:
§ Inanimate Objects
§ Collection of Gunshot Residue from Fixed
§ Inanimate Objects
§ Procedure
§ Muzzle-to-Target Distance Approximation Testing:
§ HumanTissue
§ Paraffin Test
§ Determination of Time since Discharge
§ Case Study
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Bullet Hole and Wound Characteristics
§ Bullet Holes in Clothing and Underlying Tissue
§ Reconciling Bullet Holes in Clothing with Underlying
§ Wounds
§ Bullet Holes in Glass and Glass Injuries
§ Glass Evidence Checklists
§ Determination of Directionalities of Shots
§ Determination of Shot Sequence
§ Glass Evidence Collection
§ Documentation of Bullet Holes in Glass
§ Glass Injury Documentation
§ Side Glass Position Determination
§ Test Firing for Confirmation Purposes
§ Bullet Holes in Tires and Other Elastic Materials
§ Documentation
§ Case Study
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Bullet Ricochet Phenomena
§ Terms Associated with Ricochets
§ Producing Ricochet
§ Directionality Based on Point of Impact
§ Other Indicators of Directionality
§ V Shape
§ Fracture Lines on Painted Surfaces
§ "Classic" Ricochet Mark
§ "Pear" Effect
§ Ricochet Crease Profiles
§ Ricochet with Partial Penetration
§ Internal Ricochet
§ Ricochets off Glass
§ Direction of Twist Determination from Ricochet Mark
§ Establishing Critical Angles
§ Establishing Ricochet Angles
§ Establishing Deflection Angles
§ Establishing Shooter Position
§ Documentation
§ Evidence of Ricochet
§ Case Study
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Bloodstains and Blood Spatter
at Shooting Scenes
§ Blood Characteristics and Drop Formation
§ Blood Spatter Associated with
§ Blood on Hands of Shooter
§ Blood on Objects at Shooting Scene
§ Non-Gunshot Dynamics That Mimic High Velocity
§ Impact Blood Spatter
§ Blood and Use in Timeline Development
§ Case Studies
§ Case 1: Blood Solves a Shooting
§ Case 2: Bloodstains and Lividity Contradict
§ a Suspect's Story
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Officer-Involved Shootings
§ General Considerations
§ Protocol for Officer-Involved Shooting
§ Unintentional Discharge of Weapon
§ Accidental Discharge of Weapon
§ Suicide by Cop
§ Case Studies
§ Attempted Suicide by Cop
§ Charles Whitman and the University of Texas
§ Tower Incident
§ Exercises
§ Suggested Readings

Case Analysis
§ General Considerations
§ Shot Accounting
§ Recognizing Staged and Misrepresented Crime Scenes
§ Off-Scene Analysis of Crime Scene Data
§ Homicide-versus-Suicide Issues
§ Common Misconceptions
§ Importance of Obtaining Participant Information
§ Shots Fired into Vehicles
§ Vehicle Bullet Hole Documentation
§ and Trajectory Analysis
§ Case Studies
§ Case 1
§ Case 2
§ Case 3
§ Suggested Readings

Ballistics
§ Introduction
§ Internal Ballistics
§ External Ballistics
§ Terminal Ballistics
§ Common Misconceptions Regarding Wound Ballistics
§ Sound Suppressors
§ Case Study
§ Suggested Readings

Firearms and Ammunition Reference
Collections and Other Resources
§ Firearms and Ammunition Reference Collections
§ Databases and Software
§ Vehicle Information
§ Architectural Information
§ Weather and Meteorological Data
§ Bullet Trajectory Data
§ Imagery
§ Crime Scene Software
§ References

Report Writing, Demonstrative Evidence,
and Courtroom Presentation
§ Standard Reporting Formats
§ Suggested Summation Report Format
§ Photographic Images, Drawings, and Diagrams
§ Full-Scale Reproductions
§ PowerPoint Presentations
§ Court Testimony
§ Suggested Readings

Glossary

Index