Forensics: Crime Scene Detective — Case 2: Parking Lot Shooting

Case 2: Parking Lot Shooting is the second full investigation after Locked Office Murder. A woman reports finding evidence of violence in a parking area. Unlike Case 1's dense office environment, this outdoor scene focuses on ballistics documentation — blood spatter patterns, shell casings, and a discarded firearm — while testing whether the incident was murder, self-defense, or something else entirely.

Case Briefing

Read the case file before traveling to the scene. Witness statements describe a parking lot discovery with signs of gunfire. Your objectives: document all ballistic evidence, collect blood samples for DNA analysis, and determine the shooting scenario through trajectory reconstruction in the laboratory.

Scene Layout Notes

Press coverage notes this case provides access to a limited section of the parking area rather than the full lot. Focus your search on the accessible zone — blood drops, shell casings on the ground, and a firearm left near the evidence cluster. There is no body at the scene; the investigation relies entirely on trace evidence and witness accounts.

Crime Scene Steps

1. Place evidence markers next to every blood spatter pattern before touching anything.
2. Photograph each blood stain with the marker visible — spatter shape reveals shooting angle.
3. Locate and mark all shell casings on the ground.
4. Photograph casings from multiple angles for ballistic comparison.
5. Document the firearm position with markers and photographs before collection.
6. Swab blood samples after full documentation for DNA analysis.
7. Search the accessible perimeter for additional traces before leaving.

Laboratory Analysis Priority

1. Ballistics — Compare shell casings to the collected firearm at the projectile workstation.
2. Trajectory reconstruction — Insert rods through documented impact points to determine shooting angle.
3. DNA analysis — Process blood swabs for victim and suspect profile comparison.
4. Determine scenario — Murder, self-defense, accident, or staged scene based on trajectory data.

Shooting Scenario Guide

Common Mistakes

• Collecting shell casings before photographing them in situ.
• Ignoring blood spatter on vertical surfaces — spatter on walls reveals shooter height and position.
• Skipping trajectory reconstruction and relying only on firearm comparison.
• Leaving the scene before checking the full accessible perimeter.
• Closing the case without running secondary DNA comparison on blood samples.