Wednesday, May 30th
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Vendors
Morning Technical Session
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Casting can be
used in firearms identification in both training
and casework purposes for replication of various
surfaces. Three different products available for
casting will be evaluated. Mikrosil, Theftingate,
and Forensic Sil. This presentation will focus
on casting breech faces, and the pros and cons
of each product.
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Objectives:
Contrast the fundamentals of crime scene
documentation with state of the art techniques
currently available. A discussion of software
programs, measuring devices and 3-D laser
scanning technology that now support the field
of crime scene reconstruction.
Methodology: A survey of specialized
equipment used in a modern police agency
including Photography, Sketching, Total Station
survey equipment, 3-D modeling, animations and
3-D laser scanning.
Results: Examples of each type, in
addition to a live demonstration of a 3-D Laser
scanner will give the students a comprehensive
overview of the advantages and tradeoffs of this
low cost to high tech equipment.
Conclusions: Students will be able to
make informed decisions about what type of
system is best for the type of scene
documentation needed in their respective
jurisdictions.
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At least two
articles have appeared in the AFTE Journal
regarding the comparison of cast bullets with
the mould that cast them. The authors [Kellet-July
1984 and Kreiser July 1995] come to opposite
conclusions as to whether a cast bullet can be
associated with a specific mould. One view is
that such bullets can be associated with a
specific, individual mould cavity while the
other author cautions that you may only be able
to say that a cast bullet came from one of a
group of closely related moulds.
Following a brief illustrated description of the
method used to manufacture bullet moulds and the
various locations and sources of tool marks on
these moulds, the author will demonstrate that
both authors are right and that the correct
interpretation of the tool marks on a cast
bullet and any putative mould submitted for
comparison require a firm understanding and
recognition of class characteristics, subclass
characteristics and individual characteristics.
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During the initial shootout in August of 2002 at
a place called the “Y” on Caribou Ridge, Randy
Weaver’s son sustained two perforating gunshot
wounds, one of which proved fatal. This wound
was the consequence of a bullet that entered the
boy’s back, perforated the heart and exited his
chest. This bullet was never found during the
original investigation and scene processing.
At the time of the criminal trial in the spring
of 1993 the possible source of the fatal wound
was one of two 5.56mm M16A2 rifles carried by
two U.S. Marshals or a suppressed 9mm Colt SMG
carried by a third U.S. Marshal.
The boy’s father, Randy Weaver was also nearby
and fired a number of 9mm rounds into the air
with a Tanfoglio TZ75 pistol.
A family friend of the Weavers also fired shots
at the “Y” with a .30-’06 rifle but he and Randy
Weaver were never seriously considered as the
source of Sammy Weaver’s fatal wound.
The author opined in the 1993 criminal trial
that the 5.56mm rifles were excluded as having
fired the fatal shot and that a bullet from the
9mm SMG was the probable source of the boy’s
fatal gunshot wound. This opinion was based on
the nature of the bullet holes in the boy’s
leather vest and underlying clothing and the
limited choices of bullet types and calibers
fired at the “Y”.
During the 1995 senate hearings on what came to
be known as “The Siege at Ruby Ridge”, there was
a suggestion that Randy Weaver accidentally shot
his son with a stray bullet from one of his 9mm
pistol shots. Working independently and out of a
compelling desire to definitively known what
happened on Ruby Ridge, Boundary County Sheriff
Greg Sprungl and his close friend, Curt Kastens
from the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement,
conducted an exhaustive search of the field of
fire at the initial shootout scene during the
fall of 1995. They recovered numerous bullets
after tracking their flight paths through the
dense forest and undergrowth. Among these
bullets was Sammy Weaver’s fatal bullet- a
partially expanded 9mm SilverTip from the Colt
9mm SMG.
This presentation will show how this bullet was
located and how it was association with the
boy’s fatal gunshot wound through exterior,
terminal and wound ballistics as well as trace
evidence considerations.
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The central
question examines the belief that a bullet fired
from a handgun held with a loose or “limp” grip
will show a decrease in velocity. This paper
presents the results of dynamic tests in which
handguns were fired while unsupported and
suspended allowing the handgun to recoil freely
in a direction opposite to the bullet’s path and
compares the resultant bullet velocities with
those produced from a supported grip. A novel
trigger activating device was utilized along
with a Doppler ballistic radar system to
demonstrate that the gripping of the firearm has
no effect on bullet velocity.
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A woman is
fatally shot while in the driver’s seat. Husband
claims it was a drive-by shooting from an
oncoming car. The primary question became: Is
this possible?
A shooting incident analysis and reconstruction
was performed using all available physical
evidence and the integration of data from wound
ballistics, velocity calculations, firearms
performance, experimental video analysis, and 3D
computer animation graphics. The analysis and
reconstruction allowed a finding that the
evidence was not consistent with the drive-by
shooting scenario. This paper presents the
methodology and analytical measures used.
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Objectives: The two
experiments presented were designed to look at
the actions of bullets during ricochet events.
Shots were fired onto the surface of each of
four media.
Methodology: This presentation uses
high-speed video and still images taken at the
Yuma Proving Ground to demonstrate bullet
actions following ricochet from 4 different
surfaces. The surfaces are concrete, wallboard,
steel and asphalt. The cameras used are Redlake
HG-100K cameras. One sequence also uses a
high-speed Infer-Red camera by Indigo systems.
One of each test will be presented though 3
shots were filmed of each.
Results: The presentation will allow the
viewer to see for themselves what actions the
bullets go through during ricochet. Including
but not limited to the Yaw characteristics that
occur.
Conclusions: As has been noted in
literature on the subject bullets ricocheting
from softer surfaces tend to go higher. Bullets
off of hard surfaces tend to yaw nose down.
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Afternoon Technical
Session
Afternoon Moderator: Nancy McCombs
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Objectives: Since the
beginning of 2007, 3 new WEB databases are
available via the Internet for the firearms
examiner:
- MoF
(Markings on Firearms): a database to
determine the meaning of a marking found on
a gun, including the possibility to post
unknown markings to the community
- FIRETYDE
(Firearms Type (=Class) Determination): a
database to determine make and model of a
firearm from marks found on fired bullets
and cases. This database includes graphs of
the typical appearance of marks as they
appear on fired cartridges.
- CALIBER:
a database to determine the caliber of a
cartridge case from simple measurements,
including the possibility to determine a
standardized caliber name.
Methodology:
All databases are available through the Internet
free of charge for registered users only. The
databases will be administered by the BKA.
Forensic Science Department.
Firearm labs all over the world are invited to
become registered users.
Results: The presentation gives an "online"
demonstration of the databases. Printed
application forms will be distributed for the
interested audience. Application forms, however,
are also available at https://www.forensic-firearms.bund.de
Select > Login > User Registration
(Remark: don't forget to enter https as part of
the address into your browser!)
Conclusions: The new WEB databases hopefully may
prove to be useful working tools for the
forensic firearms examiner.
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Objectives:
Discussion of the Santa Ana Case Study
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Background
- Problems
dealing with overwhelming shooting incidents
- Unique
steps taken to deal with those issues
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Techniques resulting in tremendous success
using the IBIS System
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Significant increase in IBIS Hits
- Better
understanding of what the IBIS Hits mean
Methodology:
The city of Santa Ana, California is about 24
square miles in diameter with over 100 active
Hispanic and Asian Gangs. With over 2500 firearm
related incidents, the Santa Ana Police
Department's one Firearms Examiner and two part
time assistants had to come up with unique
techniques to help combat the odds in dealing
with this situation. These techniques such as
Expedited Report Writing, Flow Charting, Mapping
and Training of Crime Scene Personnel the IBIS
system have helped to prioritize the workload of
the Forensic Firearms Section.
Results: What has resulted from the techniques
mentioned, the Santa Ana Police Department
currently has nearly 800 IBIS Cold Case Hits
with 630 of those hits being in the past 24
months. Because of the success of the program
the coordination between the Firearms Unit and
the Gang Unit has improved. The Gang Unit for
the Santa Ana Police Department actually assigns
cases to their detectives based on IBIS Hits.
Conclusions: These techniques and perspectives
on report writing, flow charting, mapping
techniques and procedures are presented as a way
to show that things can be done to improve the
effectiveness of the Firearms Unit. This is
presented to the members in order to create
innovative thinking toward ways to improve the
industry and provide better results for the
detectives and the communities they serve.
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In casework, the firearm examiner may
occasionally come across an unmarked or homemade
firearm. Without a factory stamp indicating the
caliber of the firearm, one must make these
determinations by other means. This becomes even
more crucial if test firing is requested. This
paper will detail a particular homicide case
involving an unmarked firearm and the steps
taken and lessons learned to identify what
cartridge(s) it was chambered for.
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Objectives: New
method which shows practicable production
toolmarks inside cartridge cases.
Methodology: I will show, that in several steps
of production, specific toolmarks will be left
inside the cartridge cases from the tools /
mandrels.
Results: By examining different makes of
ammunition, the study has shown that the
majority of cartridges in a randomly chosen box
of ammunition are produced by the same mandrel.
Conclusions: My study has shown that it is
possible to link cartridges to the mandrel that
have been used in the production.
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Workshops
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This half-day
workshop will introduce students to restoration
of serial numbers using Magna-flux. Each
participant will be acquainted with the
background, technology and technique for this
methodology.
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This half-day
workshop will acquaint participants with various
silencer designs, effectiveness, means of
testing and legal implications. The most recent
technology will be introduced and discussed.
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David Wee,
M.S.S.W., is employed by the City of Berkeley,
Department of Health and Human Services, Mental
Health Division, Mobile Crisis Team and
Compliance Program. He serves as Program
Supervisor of the Mobile Crisis Team, which
provides consultation to emergency service
personnel concerning emergency mental health
intervention. He is also responsible for
coordination of psychological support services
to emergency services personal and delivery of
mental health services to citizens following
disasters.
This half-day
workshop will introduce participants to the
concept of critical incident stress management (CISM).
One of the common, now archaic, techniques for
dealing with stress related to critical
incidents was to detach from them. It is
becoming quite apparent that detachment, while
immediately helpful, has a greater likelihood of
deleterious long-term effects extending to all
avenues of our lives. This workshop will help
participants to be more aware of ways in which
critical incident stress can be managed such
that they are not paralyzed from accomplishing
the task while maintaining long-term mental
health that is vibrant.
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Copyright © 2006 Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners
(AFTE).
All rights reserved. Revised:
May 31, 2007.
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> Training Seminar
> 2007 Wednesday
