Firearms and toolmark identification have a longer history than most any other forensic science; it dates to the creation of the modern crime lab. The field emerged in the 1920s, when Calvin Goddard and fellow scientists adapted the comparison microscope ...

Tagged with: ballistics firearms

For Desmond Turner, everything came down to one bullet. Prosecutors had eyewitness testimony, Turner’s own statements and plenty of circumstantial evidence. But no physical evidence tied Turner to the worst mass shooting in Indianapolis history. Except one round of rifle ...

Tagged with: ballistics firearms forensics

Firearms tell many tales. Using gunshot residue, the path of spent casings and even trajectory predictions, investigators can determine where a shooter stood in relation to a target. That information could help prosecutors or defense attorneys argue whether an accused ...

Tagged with: ballistics

Ballistics: The study of the movement of a projectile through the air, which could include bullets, missiles or other objects. “Ballistic fingerprinting” refers to the forensic science of firearm and bullet analysis. Bullet: A projectile propelled by a firearm. The ...

Tagged with: ballistics forensics

At first glance, the St. Louis County Police crime lab looks like any scientist’s cramped office – shelves overflowing with binders and books, bright lamps, microscopes and a wall of manila envelopes containing various specimens to study. Then you see ...

Tagged with: ballistics crime lab

Questions to ask a ballistics expert: 1. Are you certified as a firearms examiner by the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners? 2. Did you clean or alter the crime scene bullets in any way to facilitate comparison? How ...

Tagged with: ballistics crime lab forensics

Here are some Web resources for those wanting to learn more about ballistics evidence. Firearms Tutorials This comprehensive site from the University of Utah is designed for medical professionals studying pathology, and includes detailed information for professionals who may encounter ...

Tagged with: ballistics evidence forensics

“Many long-held beliefs about arson have been proven untrue.” “Fingerprint evidence can be unreliable.” “Some lab technicians who conduct tests aren’t well-trained.” Those sentiments come not from a desperate defense attorney but are the thrust of a report by the ...

Tagged with: arson ballistics forensics