Firearms, Tool Marks, and Other Impressions

Chapter 17 FIREARMS, TOOL MARKS, AND OTHER IMPRESSIONS
17- 1
Introduction
Structural variations and irregularities
Scratches Nicks Breaks Wear
Relates
bullet to a gun scratch or abrasion mark to a single tool tire track to a particular automobile
Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein
2011, 2007, 2004, 2001, 1998, 1995 Pearson Higher Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
17- 2
Individualization
attainable reality in firearm and tool mark examination
17- 3
Gun Barrel Markings

Peculiar to each gun Produced from a solid bar of steel hollowed out by drilling Microscopic drill marks
Barrels inner surface Randomly irregular
Uniqueness to each barrel
17- 4
Gun Barrel Markings

Rifling
Impressing its inner surface with spiral grooves
Lands
Surfaces of the original bore remaining between the grooves
Grooves guide a fired bullet through the barrel

Impart a rapid spin to insure accuracy
17- 5
Gun Barrel Markings

Caliber
Diameter of the gun barrel Measured between opposite lands
Class characteristics of the weapons barrel consistent

Same number of lands and grooves Same approximate width Same direction of twist
17- 6
Striations
Striations
Fine lines found in the interior of the barrel Impressed into the metal as the negatives of minute imperfections found on the rifling cutters surface Produced by minute chips of steel pushed against the barrels inner surface by a moving broach cutter
17- 7
Striations
Form the individual characteristics of barrel Inner surface of barrel of gun that leaves its striation markings on bullet passing through it
17- 8
Striations
17- 9
Striations
17-10
Bullet Examination
No two rifled barrels have identical striation markings Obvious points of comparison
Number of lands and grooves Direction of twist Initial stages of examination between an evidence bullet and test-fired bullet
Any differences in these class characteristics

Eliminate the possibility that both bullets traveled through same barrel
17-11
The Comparison Microscope

Single most important tool to a firearms examiner Two bullets and compared simultaneously within the same field of view
Lands and grooves identical widths Longitudinal striations
17-12
Shotguns
Smooth barrel Small lead balls or pellets Gauge: diameter of the shotgun barrel Higher the gauge number:
Smaller the barrels diameter
17-13
Striations
17-14
Firing a Weapon
Pulling the trigger
Release the weapons firing pin Strikes primer Ignites the powder
Expanding gases generated by the burning gunpowder

Propel the bullet forward through the barrel Simultaneously push spent cartridge case or shell back with equal force against the breechblock
Shell is impressed with markings

Contact with the metal surfaces of the weapons firing/ loading mechanisms 2011, 2007, 2004, 2001, 1998, 1995 Pearson Higher Education, Criminalistics, 10e
Richard Saferstein
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
17-15
Handguns
17-16
Cartridge Case Comparison

Distinctive signature
Firing pin: shape impressed into the relatively soft metal of the primer on the cartridge case Breechblock: rearward thrust Metal to metal contact
Ejector mechanism: throws the cartridge or fired case from the firearm Extractor mechanism: cartridge of a fired case is withdrawn from the firing chamber. Magazine or clip: holds the bullets.
17-17
Gun Samples
17-18
Bullets
17-19
Computerized Imaging
Surface characteristics in a manner analogous to automated fingerprint files. National integrated ballistics information network, NIBIN
Database files from bullets and cartridge casings Retrieved from crime scenes or test fires from retrieved firearms Links a specific weapon to multiple crimes.
Ultimate decision for making a final comparison

Will be determined by the forensic examiner Through traditional microscopic methods
17-20
Gunpowder Residue
Unburned and partially burned particles of gunpowder and smoke propelled out of the barrel Muzzle of the weapon close = products deposited onto the target Permits an assessment of the distance from which a handgun or rifle was fired
17-21
Gunpowder Residue
Comparison of the powder-residue pattern
Victims clothing or skin Test patterns made when the suspect weapon is fired at varying distances from a target
Examiner may find enough similarity in shape and density upon which to base an opinion as to the distance from which the shot was fired
17-22
Gunpowder Residue
Weapon in contact /less than 1 from the target
Star-shaped (stellate) tear pattern around the bullet hole entrance Surrounded by a rim of a smokeless deposit of vaporous lead
Discharge of 12 to 18 inches or less Halo of vaporous lead (smoke) deposited around a bullet hole
17-23
Gunpowder Residue
Distances up to 25 (and occasionally as far as 36) Scattered specks of unburned and partially burned powder grains without any accompanying soot More than three feet No powder residues, Only visual indication dark ring around the hole, known as a bullet wipe
17-24
Gunpowder Residue
Garments or other evidence relevant to a shooting
Surfaces of all items examined microscopically for the presence of gunpowder residue
Chemical tests
Greiss test Needed to detect gunpowder residues not visible
17-25
Gunpowder Residue: Shotguns

Firing related to test firing Spread of the discharged shot
Muzzle to target distances
17-26
Primer Residue on Hands

Gunpowder and primer residues blow back toward the shooter Deposited on the firing hand of the shooter Detection can provide valuable information as to whether or not an individual has recently fired a weapon
17-27
Primer Residue on Hands

Amount of barium and antimony on the relevant portion of the suspects hands
Thumb web Back of the hand Palm
Morphology of particles containing these elements

Whether or not a person has fired, handled a weapon, or was near a discharged firearm
17-28
Serial Numbers
Restoration of serial number
removed or obliterated by grinding, rifling, or punching
17-29
Serial Numbers
Restoration of serial numbers
Chemical etching The metal crystals in the stamped zone under permanent strain Extends a short distance beneath the original numbers
17-30
Serial Numbers Restoration Kit
17-31
Firearm Evidence Collection

Hold weapon by the edge of trigger guard or by checkered portions of the grip Precautions taken to prevent accidental discharge of a loaded weapon In most cases unload the weapon When revolver is recovered, the chambers, their positions, and corresponding cartridges must be recorded Marked for identification (usually a tag on the trigger guard) Chain of custody must be established
17-32
Firearm Evidence Collection

Bullets recovered at the crime scene Scribed with the investigators initials Either on base or nose of bullet Avoid obliteration of striation markings that may be present on bullet Bullet protected Wrap in tissue paper Place in pillbox or an envelope for shipment Fired casings identified by investigators initials near outside or inside mouth of the shell Discharged shotgun shells initialed On the paper or plastic tube remaining on the shell On the metal nearest the mouth of the shell.
17-33
TOOL MARKS
17-34
Tool Marks
any impression, cut, gouge, or abrasion caused by a tool coming into contact with another object
17-35
Tool Marks
Class characteristics
Minute imperfections on a tool that impart individuality to tool Shape and pattern of imperfections further modified by damage and wear during the life of the tool
Size and shape of the tool
17-36
Tool Marks
Comparison microscope
Compare crime-scene tool marks Test impressions made with suspect tool
17-37
Tool Marks
Entire object or the part of the object bearing the tool mark submitted Under no circumstances must crime scene investigator attempt to fit the suspect tool into the tool mark Any contact between the tool and the marked surface may alter the mark and will, at the least, raise serious questions about the integrity of the evidence
17-38
Other Impressions
Shoe, tire or fabric impressions Before any impression moved or otherwise handled Readily recoverable item
Must be photographed (including a scale) Show all the observable details of the impression
Cannot be submitted to the laboratory
Glass, paper, or floor tile Transported intact to the laboratory
Preserve the print in a manner similar to lifting a fingerprint
17-39
Tire Marks
17-40
Other Impressions
Shoe and tire marks Chemical enhancement can visualize latent or nearly invisible blood impressions.
Faint bloody footwear impression Subject track through blood leaving a trail of bloody impressions Soft earth at a crime scene Photography and casting
17-41
Footprints
17-42
Footprints
17-43
Footprints
17-44
Footprints
17-45
Bite Marks
Bite mark impressions human and animal
Skin and foodstuffs Evidence in homicide and rape cases
17-46
Bite Marks
17-47
Points of Comparison
Sufficient number of points of comparison or the uniqueness of such points
Support finding that both questioned and test impressions originated from one and only one source New computer software and web
17-48
Summary
17-49

Firearms, Tool Marks, and Other Impressions

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Chapter 17 FIREARMS, TOOL MARKS, AND OTHER IMPRESSIONS

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Gun Barrel Markings

Uniqueness to each barrel

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Gun Barrel Markings

Grooves guide a fired bullet through the barrel

Gun Barrel Markings

Class characteristics of the weapons barrel consistent

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Any differences in these class characteristics

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

The Comparison Microscope

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Expanding gases generated by the burning gunpowder

Shell is impressed with markings

Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Cartridge Case Comparison

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Ultimate decision for making a final comparison

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Gunpowder Residue: Shotguns

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Primer Residue on Hands

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Primer Residue on Hands

Morphology of particles containing these elements

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Serial Numbers Restoration Kit

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Firearm Evidence Collection

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Firearm Evidence Collection

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Size and shape of the tool

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Cannot be submitted to the laboratory

Glass, paper, or floor tile Transported intact to the laboratory

Preserve the print in a manner similar to lifting a fingerprint

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein

Criminalistics, 10e Richard Saferstein