In the realm of Forensic Science, Ballistics is often the unsung hero in cracking open gun-related crimes. Whether it’s a single shell casing at a scene, or a bullet lodged in a wall, each piece of evidence tells a story-this is how ballistics recreates it.
What…Exactly is Ballistics?
Ballistics is the study of projectiles in motion—especially bullets and firearms. It’s typically broken down into three categories:
- Internal: What happens inside the firearm when its fired
- External: The bullets path through the air
- Terminal: What happens when the bullet hits its target.
Each stage provides incredible information.
So…How do our Forensic Ballistics team link guns to crimes?
Using Comparison microscopes, ballistics experts examine the grooves and scratches let on bullets and casings. These marks are like fingerprints-unique to every firearm.
If a bullet recovered from a crime scene matches the markings from a suspect’s weapon, it becomes powerful evidence in court.
Forensic experts can also determine trajectory, helping reconstruct how a shooting occurred. From bullet angles to estimated shooter location, it gives investigators a digital map of the moment the gun was fired.
For Example:
In a 2018 South African investigation, a single 9mm casing found at a robbery scene led police to a firearm connected to multiple unsolved cases. The ballistic link was made using the Integrated Ballistics Identification System, which stores and matches firearm-related evidence across databases. It turned out the gun had been passed between gangs over several months.
Read more on IBIS from Interpol’s Ballistics Database.
Conclusion:
Ballistics transforms silent, lifeless bullets into forensic witnesses. In the hands of a skilled examiner, like our very own Dave Pieterse, a single casing can collapse alibis, connect suspects, and offer closure to victims’ families.
As we continue to advance in technology and data-sharing across countries, this study and practice will only become more powerful in solving crimes and delivering justice.