Vehicles as Shooting Incident Crime Scenes

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Bonnie & Clyde Car

Bonny and Clyde’s car, riddled with bullet holes after the ambush. Picture taken by FBI investigators on May 23, 1934.

Al Capone's Bullet-Proof Gangster Car

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Vehicles … indispensible and integral and critical part of our modern society. Also involved in crime types ranging from hit-and-runs, kidnappings, homicides, sexual assaults, shootings, etc. Makes sense to concentrate on vehicles involved in shooting incidents.

The reason is that shooting incidents are associated with most crime types and vehicles are often involved.

Firearms evidence, biological evidence, trace evidence, fingerprints, footwear and tire track impression evidence. All the investigative parameters are appropriate: archived, searched, and managed.

The specifics of ricochet, deflection, and angular components of the bullet path that were discussed – everything applies.

Vehicle involved shootings are extremely complicated. Vehicles are scenes unto themselves, much like the body at a homicide scene. Several analytical issues must be considered and evaluated carefully before a definitive

statement about what happened can be rendered. Requires the rigid application of the scientific method, and unless this is done, the

final interpretation of the events that took place will likely be erroneous.

Vehicles - Introduction

Positioning seats at time of shooting May be moved to remove victims

Height or positions of windows and door openings. Obtain while archiving the exterior and

interior. Manufacturer’s diagram of vehicle can

Help with sketching the vehicle … Internet or from manufacturer’s

advertising records. Have helpful dimension data.

Behavior of vehicle in motion. How vehicle reacts in specific circumstances

can be helpful. Older vehicle: likely not react as though

it was newer. Information is only available through

experimentation. Nature of scene terrain

Obtained from surveyor records or by analysis after the event. Some

Road contour obtained during scene investigation.

Effects of scene terrain, Effect on bullet path determinations a

important to ensure bullet paths are accurate,

Data NeededVehicle specific information

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Follow normal scene investigative process Archiving

Collect as much information about the vehicle as possible Photography/video all four sides and license plates.

Record VIN number, tire manufacturer and size, Locate & categorize macroscene evidence

Damage to the body of the vehicle, Bullet holes/defects, Impressions in the paint (hit and run of a pedestrian), Blood and fibers

o Adhering to glass (windshield), o Tissue and blood on the undercarriage and tires.

Identify macro/microscene evidence Use ALS to search for fibers and fingerprints. Find trace evidence before attempting bullet path determinations.

Systematic & Logical Approach.

Was vehicle in motion at the time the shooting Complicate the investigative process Consider alternative investigative questions

When and where did bullets impact vehicle. Information might come from live victims or witnesses Position of broken glass on the ground. Bullets through a windshield can help … can provide information

concerning where the vehicle was when the windshield was struck. Other questions involve number of participants, shooter locations, vehicle

position, etc Tires are an issue because bullet strikes can deflate them slowly … vehicle

cocked at angle not there before shooting. All considerations must be taken into account because an erroneous

determinations, e.g., bullet path determination, lead to an incorrect reconstruction of the events.

Investigative Questions

On-Scene Activity

Two separate activities take place when vehicles are involved in shooting incidents

On-Scene Archiving Positioning vehicle Dusting for fingerprints on exterior Procedures for biological evidence on exterior Locating other impression evidence Glass (patterns/protecting windows) Cartridge cases (archiving/collection)

On-Scene Activities

Sketching Vehicle Shooting ScenesBullet Path Diagrams

Must be AccurateAngles must be

to scale & correct

Final resting place not necessarily where the shooting began … must determine where the shooting started.

Tire tracks … skid marks … Determine where shooting happened Indicate if/where the driver lost control, applied the

brakes or swerved.

This information plus the bullet path determinations and positioning of the shooter can go a long way toward reconstructing the event

Tire Tracks

The conduit to the inside, … by Locard standards anyone who touched the vehicle must leave evidence. Macroscene elements associated with exterior include: footwear

impressions, tire track impressions, paint transfers, bullet holes, blood and tissue, glass, cartridge cases, etc.

Microscene elements associated with exterior: fibers, fingerprints, trace evidence associated with bullet holes, etc.

What matters is that this evidence is not forgotten in the haste to track bullets paths – they’re more fun.

Investigate outside first so that fragile evidence is not lost. This does not include sticking trajectory rods into bullet holes.

Outside of the VehicleOn-Scene Activity

Archiving the Inside – After investigating the outside of vehicle Establishing shots (and video) of the interior looking outside-in from all exterior

points of the vehicle Followed by midrange shots through the windows and doors

Live victims might have been removed Process can compromise evidence Deceased victims might still be inside the vehicle

Positions must be documented. Macroscene evidence

Location and pattern of bloodstains Bullet holes, bullets/ fragments Cartridge cases Broken glass.

Determine who was where inside the vehicle, If driver and passengers are not present. Position of blood and bloodstain patterns, fingerprints, and biological material

on air bags can be mechanism for obtaining information.

Inside the Vehicle

Vehicle Composition

Various classes of structural material. Structural:

Holds the vehicle together, e.g., frame, axels, etc, and

Non-structural: which although structural in that it has form and shape is more practical and Decorative instead of maintaining the integrity of the

vehicle, e.g., dashboard, seats, interior door panels, etc.

Issues in Bullet Path Determinations

Position the Vehicle First activities of the on-scene investigation is to

fix the final resting position of the vehicle. Mark position of the four vehicle’s tires at

the original sceneo Spray a fluorescent line of paint

starting at the midpoint of all four tires (the axels) and moving onto the pavement. … anchors vehicle to that location on the roadway.

o Allows investigators and reconstructionists to know exactly where the vehicle originally came to rest.

Determine Tilt of Vehicle Vehicles are not always perfectly horizontal to the

roadway. Place inclinometer on the trunk and/or hood of the

vehicle (if it was an automobile) Gives the resting angle of the vehicle. NOTE: tilting vehicle might be normal

resting position, e.g., worn structural components … consequence of the shooting incident, e.g., flattened tires.

Continue spray onto road surface

Fluorescent Spray Paint

On-Scene ActivityFixing Vehicle Location

Position of Vehicle Identify vertical plane

Plumb line or surveyor’s rod o Measurements @

scene critical Vehicle shot @

this locationFixed reference point

can suffice but is not ideal o Edge of buildingo Telephone pole

Horizontal plane Tilt/listing of vehicle

Photography with plumb line

Measure with Inclinometer Tilt of the Vehicle

Horizontal from the Road

Off-Scene Activity Measuring the Vehicle

Bullet path determination Interior of the vehicle investigation begin. At controlled facility … police-secured garage

Dusting/developing fingerprints After dusting exterior at the scene Blood and tissue collection

Off Scene Activities

Step 1 Archive vehicle using establishing photography and/or video Next take midrange and close-up photos of damage and suspected

bullet holes/defects Impact points, bullet holes and defects, etc.

Step 2: Measure bullet holes/defects Measure length and width of the hole/defect

Calculate impact angle. Step 3: Describe defects

For future reference so that anyone examining the case at a later time can understand the precise positioning of the bullet holes/defects.

Create artificial vertical and horizontal reference points Requires several measurements.

Referenced to a standard vertical and horizontal artificial point, the reference point (RP).

Describe Bullet Holes/Defects

Purpose: Relate bullet holes/defects to a standard reference point One method

Use fixed points on the vehicle as reference for each defect measured, e.g., trim, molding, hook lines, etc .

Example A bullet hole in the driver’s side door could be described

(on a diagram of the door) as being 6” below the door handle and 21.5” to the right of the horizontal line drawn to the front edge of the driver’s side door.

Photographs properly place the bullet hole/defect. o Describing a bullet hole in a wall in a house like this

makes sense Referring to structural points on vehicles not easily

translated into precise locationso Because of how vehicles are built.

Two accepted methods The Haag and the Moran Methods.

Describing Bullet Holes/Defects

“Squaring the vehicle” Place vehicle inside an artificial box using horizontally placed

strings attached to tripods or other immovable objects. One along the side of the vehicle Other in the front (and/or back).

Horizontal references meet at a point at a right angle (the standard reference point).

Vehicle removed from scene to secure location to controlled, smooth & level surface

Bullet hole/impact mark measurements are made to this reference point Three measurements taken to precisely position hole/defects

Height of reference point Angle from bullet hole/defect to reference point Height off the ground of the bullet hole/defect on the vehicle

The Haag Method

Squaring the VehicleEstablishing the Front Horizontal Reference

Alternate method for creating a standard reference point for holes/defects Takes place in controlled environment On smooth, level surface

Standard references Horizontal reference determined by placing tape on the floor a set

number of inches away from the vehicle axel on each tire. Vertical reference is tape place vertically on the vehicle. Measurements from bullet holes/defects are related to the height

and distance from the hole to the horizontal and vertical references.

The Moran Method

Squaring the Vehicle Moran Method

HorizontalReference

Vertical Reference

Anything can happen and that complicates bullet paths determination. Bullet enters the vehicle

Encounters obstacles o Fragmenting

bullets create secondary projectiles

o Alters bullet path Creating

deflections and/or ricochets

Tracking bullets is tedious Requires dismantling parts

of the interior of the vehicle.

Perforating Strikes to Vehicles

Dashboard of Vehicle

Projectile1. Hits Windshield & fragments2. Projectile & fragments Hit Dashboard3. Creates Multiple defects in dashboard And in interior of vehicle.

Penetrating Strikes to Vehicles

Bullets strike but do not exit … Complicates bullet path determinations …

NEED two points of contact in order to accurately identify a bullet path. Second point contact inside a structural element.o Example:

Bullet strikes internal structure of door, Determined only by tearing the seat apart and

observing and then photographing the mark made by the bullet.

Sometimes “seeing” where bullet struck is technically challenging Requires cutting a hole in door panel.

How to Cut viewing panel or window to locate bullet and to determine

bullet paths

Penetrating (Non-exiting) Strikes to Vehicles

Penetrating Strikes to VehiclesBullets that do not exit

Locating Second Impact Point Borescope w/internal

illumination Help locate second

impact site or even the bullet

Need to properly position trajectory rod and/or laser

Recover ALL bullets

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Sandy Hook Car

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Shooter Positions

Impossible Position

Possible but Improbable

Possible but More Probable

Shooter Positions

Shooter Positions: Zones of Possibility

Sketching Vehicle Involved Shooting Scenes

Case Study

• Victim attacked while inside vehicle.• 30, 7.62mm rounds fired.

• Victim hit 7 times - died @ Scene.• Victim’s 7 year old Daughter hit 3 times - survived.

Trajectory Rods

Trajectory Rods Indicate:1. Angle projectile struck

object.2. Angle shooter was firing.

Combine casing location:• Determine approximate

distance from the object shooter located

• Rules of Laser Scene Capture:– Prepare & Photograph the

Scene.– Photograph the Laser

Setup.– Photograph the Camera

Setup.– Photograph in

Existing Light.– Photograph in Total

Darkness.

Laser & Camera Setup4 Lasers Photo’d in Darkness4 Lasers Photo’d in Darkness

4 Lasers Photographed4 Lasers Photographed

Trajectory Rod Reconstruction

Trajectory Rod Reconstruction