University of Huddersfield MSc Investigative Psychology Andrei Tudor Dumitrescu

History of Forensic Ballistics

Charles Waite is considered to be the father of forensic ballistics. In 1927 he opened a private lab in New York City called: The Bureau of Forensic Ballistics. In 1925, along with other pioneers such as: Philip Gravelle, John Fischer and Calvin Goddard, Waite established the Bureau of Forensic Ballistics with the goal of providing

firearms identification in the US.

History of Forensic Ballistics

Calvin Goddard helped the FBI in 1932 with the

application of ballistics in to the science of detective

work, later opening the Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory while also being affiliated with the

Northwestern University in Chicago. He was the first to

develop a comparison microscope for the use of bullets and cartridge cases identification. In the Valentines day massacre, Goddard determined that the casings from the shootings were from a Thomson submachine gun, not from police issued handguns.

Definitions - Ammunition
Comprises the cartridge case, primer, propellant and bullet in its entirety.

Definitions The bullet

The part of the ammunition that is projected from the firearm.

Definitions Firearms
In the UK, a lethal, barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged (Section 57 Firearms Act, 1968).

Definitions Gunshot residue

Trace residue of the metals from the ammunition released when the weapon is fired

Definitions - Ballistics
The science that studies the motion of projectiles. It is divided into three branches:
I.

Internal ballistics is the study of a projectiles motion from the time its propellants igniter is initiated until it exits the gun barrel;

II.

External ballistics deals with the behaviour of the projectile after it exits the barrel and before it hits the target;

III.

Terminal ballistics is the study of the behaviour of a projectile

when it hits its target.

Internal Ballistics
1)

Microscopic examination of the recovered bullet

Internal Ballistics
2) Determination of the composition of the bullet

Internal Ballistics
3) Gunshot residue analysis using SEM-EDX, short for Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

External Ballistics

External Ballistics

Where the bullet was fired from;

Type of weapon used;

When and where a person has been shot;

Angle of impact.

Terminal Ballistics

Close contact wounds

Entry and exit points

Terminal Ballistics

Example: shotgun blast

Terminal Ballistics

High velocity rifles - cavitation

Crime scene examination

Secure area; Search for any evidence;

Isolate and photograph evidence

References

Bodziak, William J., Footwear Impression Evidence, 2nd ed. Boca Raton, Fla: Taylor & Francis, 1999. Gagliano-Candela, R., Colucci, A.P. And Napoli, S. (2008) Determination of Firing Distance. Lead Analysis on the Target by Atomic Absortion Spectroscropy (AAS). Journal of Forensic Sciences, 53 (2), 321-324; Haag, L.C. (2006) Shooting Incident Reconstruction. Academic Press, London; Heard, B. (2008) Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics: Examining and Interpreting Forensic Evidence 2nd edn. Chancery Wiley Law Publications, New York; Leifer, A., Avisaar, Y., Berger, S., Wax, H., Donchin, Y. And Almog, J. (2001) Detection of firearm imprints on the hands of suspects: Effectiveness of PDT reaction Journal of Forensic Sciences, 46 (6), 1442-6; Mason, J.K. And Purdue, B.N. (2000) The Pathology of Trauma, 3rd edn. Arnold, London; McDonald, Peter, Tire Imprint Evidence. Boca Raton, Fla.: Taylor & Francis, 1989; Romolo, F. and Margot, P. (2001) Identification of gunshot residue: A critical review. Forensic Science International, 119, 195-211; Rowe, Walter F., Firearms Identification, in R. Saferstein, ed., Forensic Science Handbook, vol 2, 2nd., Upper Saddle River, N. J.: Prentice Hall, 2005; Schehl, S.A., Firearms and Toolmarks in the FBI Laboratory, Forensic Science Communication 2, no. 2 (2000); Walker, P. And Rodacy, P. (2002) Field Test Kit for Gunshot Residue Detection; Warlow, T.A. (1996) Firearms, the Law and Forensic Ballistics. Taylor and Francis, London
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~jb3/bullet/gsw.html

Questions ?

Thank you for your attention!