Page 97 - CFDI Guide

Certified Forensic Death Investigator (CFDI) Program
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI, CFDI-Expert and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, CFDI-SME
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) Accredited

Case Investigation
Specific to the shooting incident, the case investigation is specific to determining the aforementioned

positions of involved persons, and trajectories. In the course of the official investigation, what was
determined and reported for the following:

• Determining if a crime occurred – were there any affirmative or implied defenses investigated?
• Determining specific criminal statute violations – were any distinctions of premeditated vs. careless or

reckless actions investigated?

Firearms are used lawfully in self-defense, defense of others, and sport. Within these may be affirmative

and implied defenses, or lesser charges. The possession of a firearm in an illegal act (i.e. an illicit drug deal
in which all parties are acting criminally) or at a victim’s work or residence, does not imply the victim is

without responsibility or the defendant is categorically guilty. The means of self-defense is not defined by
person or location - it is defined by the act. Firearms in sport, including hunting, involving a fatal shooting

does not imply Accident by negligence. The full circumstances pre-incident to post-incident should be
investigated and concluded prior to the presentation of charges against a defendant.

Photographs, Video and Audio Evidence

In all criminal investigations more documentation of evidence – and the review and analysis of it – is
better. One photograph may be worth 1,000 words in a shooting incident – but only if that photograph is

taken. The documentation of injuries and trajectories, and in context with the decedent and incident
scenes is of absolute importance.

• Trajectories are most often learned after autopsy.
• The scene is often released before autopsy.

• The documentation needed to review trajectories after the scene is released and the autopsy comes

from photographs.
• Incident progression is the same as blunt and sharp force injuries – what happened before, during and

after the shooting event?

Every item of information may be important to determining range, trajectory, and movements in these
dynamic situations. Persons may go from sitting down to hands on mutual combat before the first shot is

fired. Shots may miss, and victims may survive to move to safety or be transported, or the victim may
decease on scene. Every photograph taken should be to document evidence and tell one puzzle piece of

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