Page 98 - CFDI Guide

the unfolding story for the scene detectives and at autopsy. The manner of photography – with the

incident and decedent scenes as three-dimensional boxes, and not two-dimensional planes, is important.
All perspectives and distances must be documented at all stages of the investigation and evidence

collection – from the first responders to releasing the scene.

Evidence and Disposition
Specific to shooting incident investigations, the following evidence should be looked for, processed, and

documented:
• Firearm – including location, status (loaded, unloaded, cocked or charged, etc.) make, model and serial

number, any round in the chamber, any rounds in the magazine, the type of firearm (handgun vs. long-
gun, rifle vs. shotgun, semi-automatic vs. revolver, action – pump, lever, bolt, semi-automatic, single

or double), sighting and accessories, defects and function, ejected and unejected cartridges and fired
or unfired, additional magazines and cartridges, etc. – and all in detail.

• Any recovery of bullets and casings from the scene, location and condition.
• Any GSR tests of the decedent and involved persons. (See our GSR article at

www.DeathCaseReview.com/afi-llc-blog/gunshot-residue-gsr-and-testing)
• Any evidence processing of any firearm, accessories, and ammunition.

Summary and Case Disposition
Specific information from any case summary, including search and arrest affidavits, will include the

scenario scene detectives have developed. The CFDI will review and analyze the evidence in general and
specific to GSWs and shooting incident scenes to assess the plausibility of the official findings, and any

alternatives the evidence provides and supports. This will include wound paths, entrance and exit wounds
(and entrance only), trajectories, clothing defects, blood spatter, fixtures and furnishings, and any

contextual information of the incident and decedent scenes. Did any scene evidence change after autopsy
findings? Did the continuing investigation adjust to autopsy evidence (trajectories)?

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