​Instructors: Gary Graff & Iris D. Graff    Course length: 20 hours

Detectives and forensic investigators are frequently summoned to scenes of violence involving firearms. These incidents, including homicides and officer-involved shootings, should be investigated to their logical conclusion. That requires an understanding of the firearms related evidence at the scene, and how to properly document it.
This two and one-half-day course teaches the student how to properly interpret physical evidence, and to document the scene through note taking, diagramming, and photography. Use of rods, lasers, and protractors will be covered, as will the use of mathematics in determining bullet flight paths.
This is designed as an introduction to the 40-hour Shooting Incident Reconstruction course, or as a standalone course for those students more concerned with documenting scenes as opposed to reconstructing them.

Course Content:
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Day 1 Intro / Shooting Reconstruction Concepts
Firearms & Ammunition Components
– Exercise 1: Firearms & Ammunition Practical
Shooting Scene Documentation
Defect Characteristics & Target Surface Considerations
– Exercise 2: Bullet Impact Exercise

Day 2 Review Defect Characteristics & Day 1 Exercises
– Exercise 3: Defect Characteristics & Target Surface
Chemical Testing of Defects
– Exercise 4: Chemical Testing
The Laboratory’s Role in Shooting Reconstruction
Flight Path Rods
– Exercise 5: Flight Path Rods / Use of Lasers
Vehicles
– Exercise 6: Vehicles
Day 3 Mathematics in Shooting Reconstruction
– Exercise 7: Mathematics
Class Wrap-up & Certificates
This course does not include live-fire exercises
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